There was a strong
positive correlation between pest density and degree of foliar injury. The number
of fruiting bunches, indicative of the palm-oil productivity, was significantly
higher in occupied palms. The predatory behaviour of O. smaragdina towards P.
pendula was confirmed by observations in a distinctive chronological sequence.
Field experiments showed that O. smaragdina preferred to consume pupae
over larvae (of all instars), until the extermination of the former. The study
confirmed that O. smaragdina does not attack or disturb the oil palm pollinator
weevil, Elaeidobius kamerunicus. The ant species thus shows great promise for
biological control in oil palm