Preliminary Morphomolecular Characterisation of a Cryptic Weevil Associated With Young Oil Palms in Malaysia

A cryptic weevil associated with damaged young oil palms was detected in Tangkak, Johor, Malaysia.The specimen was initially suspected to be the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, but exhibited notable differences in body size and elytral markings.Morphometric analysis revealed morphological differences, prompting molecular identification using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene markers.COI sequence analysis showed 84.94%-85.17%identity with Sphenophorus compressirostris, while 16S rRNA analysis showed 93.36% identity with Sparganobasis subcruciata and 91.94% with Sphenophorus sp.These results suggest a closer phylogenetic affinity to Sphenophorus-or Sparganobasis-like taxa than to Rhynchophorus, although they should be interpreted as preliminary indications rather than definitive taxonomic placement.This study provides preliminary evidence of an unusual weevil lineage associated with Malaysian oil palm systems.The findings highlight the limitations of morphology-based identification alone and emphasise the value of integrating molecular diagnostics in pest surveillance.Given that related taxa include basalboring species capable of damaging internal palm tissues, misidentification may result in inappropriate control strategies and overlooked infestations.Overall, this preliminary work underscores the importance of combining morphological and molecular approaches to improve diagnostic accuracy and support timely, evidence-based pest management in the oil palm industry.