Evaluation of different food substrates for use in mass rearing of African oil palm weevil (Rhynchophorus phoenicis) for food in Ghana

The African oil palm weevil (AOPW) Rhynchophorus phoenicis, is one of the major pests of palm and coconut trees in Africa. Although it is considered a major pest, the adults, larvae and pupae are also a delicacy for most rural people, particularly, in southern Ghana. We evaluated different diet types under two fermentation solvent (water and palm wine) to get information about its development and controlled rearing methods. Shredded and non-shredded oil palm core and coconut fronds fermented in either tap water or palm wine for 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 day-intervals were used to feed the adult and 3^rd and 4^th larval stages to determine whether the insects will survive on the diets. The unshredded oil palm core and shredded coconut fronds fermented for 3 days in both water and palm wine provided the best larval and adult development with shredded and 3 days fermented coconut frond a distant second.