The potential of ceratopogonid midges as insect pollinators of cocoa

There were approximately 170,000 hectares of cocoa land in Malaysia. The planting materials are made up of different varieties such as Amelonada, Upper Amazon Hybrids and others. Many of these varieties were self incompatible and therefore, required an insect pollinator. The insects associated with cocoa flowers were ants, aphids, bees, dipterans and thrips. The dipterous insects especially members of Ceratopogonidae consisting of 78 genera and subgeneva were prevalent in cocoa and tropical crop areas. At least, four genera viz: Atrichopogon Kieffer, Brachypogon Kieffer, Dasyhelea Kieffer and Forcipomyia Meigen, are known to be present in cocoa areas in Malaysia. The biting midges of Genus Forcipomyia were active pollinators as floral morphology of cocoa generally excludes or deter pollination by other insects. One species, Forcipomyia (Euprojoannasia) fuscimana Kieffer are commonly found in cocoa areas of Malaysia. These Forcipomyia midges were reported in Central America to increase fruit set of cocoa. Unfortunately, in Malaysia, the research on Forcipomyia midges is still in an early stage. This paper discussed the possible role of these ceratopogonid midges in cocoa areas and the manipulation of cultural practices to maintain a high population of the pollinators.