New leaf- and litter-dwelling species of the genus Pholcus from Southeast Asia (Araneae, Pholcidae)

We describe eight new species of the genus Pholcus, and document their microhabitats. Four species are assigned to the previously described Pholcus ethagala group: P. tanahrata Huber sp. nov., P. uludong Huber sp. nov., and P. bukittimah Huber sp. nov. from the Malay Peninsula, and P. barisan Huber sp. nov. from Sumatra. These species are all litter-dwellers that build domed sheet webs on the undersides of large dead leaves on the ground. The other four species are assigned to newly created species groups: the P. tambunan group with two species from northern Borneo: P. tambunan Huber sp. nov. and P. bario Huber sp. nov.; and the P. domingo group with two species from the Philippines, Mindanao: P. domingo Huber sp. nov. and P. matutum Huber sp. nov. These latter four species are leafdwellers that build barely visible silk platforms tightly attached to the undersides of live leaves. The main rationale for this paper is to provide part of the taxonomic and natural history background for upcoming phylogenetic and evolutionary (microhabitat shifts) analyses

Figs 48–53. Pholcus ledang Huber, 2011 in New leaf- and litter-dwelling species of the genus Pholcus from Southeast Asia (Araneae, Pholcidae)

Figs 48–53. Pholcus ledang Huber, 2011, SEM micrographs (ZFMK, Ar 15704–05). 48–49. Male and female prosomata, frontal views. 50. Comb hairs on male tarsus 4. 51–52. Right appendix and embolus, prolateral and distal views. 53. Female ALS. Scale bars: 48 = 300 µm; 49 = 200 µm; 50 = 10 µm; 51–52 = 100 µm; 53 = 20 µm

Figs 39–47. Pholcus gombak Huber, 2011 in New leaf- and litter-dwelling species of the genus Pholcus from Southeast Asia (Araneae, Pholcidae)

Figs 39–47. Pholcus gombak Huber, 2011, SEM micrographs (ZFMK, Ar 15701–02). 39–40. Male and female prosomata, frontal views. 41. Left procursus; asterisk marks large prolatero-dorsal process. 42– 43. Right appendix and embolus, prolateral and prolatero-distal views. 44. Female ALS. 45. Cuticular processes on whitish retrolateral area of left procursus. 46. Male gonopore. 47. Epigynum, ventral view. Scale bars: 39–40 = 300 µm; 41, 47 = 200 µm; 42, 43 = 100 µm; 44 = 20 µm; 45 = 10 µm; 46 = 30 µm

Figs 32–38. Live specimens. 32–35. Pholcus gombak Huber, 2011 in New leaf- and litter-dwelling species of the genus Pholcus from Southeast Asia (Araneae, Pholcidae)

Figs 32–38. Live specimens. 32–35. Pholcus gombak Huber, 2011, Kemensah (32) and Gunung Liang (33–35), ♂, ♀ with parasitized egg-sac seven days before eclosion of wasps (33), one day before eclosion (34), and at eclosion (35). 36–38. P. ledang Huber, 2011, Gunung Ledang, ♂ and ♀ with egg-sac

Is There a Risk of Suburban Transmission of Malaria in Selangor, Malaysia?

Background: The suburban transmission of malaria in Selangor, Malaysia's most developed and populous state still remains a concern for public health in this region. Despite much successful control efforts directed at its reduction, sporadic cases, mostly brought in by foreigners have continued to occur. In addition, cases of simian malaria caused by Plasmodium knowlesi, some with fatal outcome have caused grave concern to health workers. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of local malaria transmission in suburban regions of Selangor, which are adjacent to secondary rainforests.Findings: A malaria survey spanning 7 years (2006 - 2012) was conducted in Selangor. A total of 1623 laboratory confirmed malaria cases were reported from Selangor's nine districts. While 72.6% of these cases (1178/1623) were attributed to imported malaria (cases originating from other countries), 25.5% (414/1623) were local cases and 1.9% (31/1623) were considered as relapse and unclassified cases combined. In this study, the most prevalent infection was P. vivax (1239 cases, prevalence 76.3%) followed by P. falciparum (211, 13.0%), P. knowlesi (75, 4.6%), P. malariae (71, 4.4%) and P. ovale (1, 0.06%). Mixed infections comprising of P. vivax and P. falciparum were confirmed (26, 1.6%). Entomological surveys targeting the residences of malaria patients' showed that the most commonly trapped Anopheles species was An. maculatus. No oocysts or sporozoites were found in the An. maculatus collected. Nevertheless, the possibility of An. maculatus being the malaria vector in the investigated locations was high due to its persistent occurrence in these areas.Conclusions: Malaria cases reported in this study were mostly imported cases. However the co-existence of local cases and potential Plasmodium spp. vectors should be cause for concern. The results of this survey reflect the need of maintaining closely monitored malaria control programs and continuous extensive malaria surveillance in Peninsula Malaysia

Malaria case classification in Selangor (2006-2012).

<p>Malaria cases were classified as either local, imported, relapsed cases or unclassified/unknown. Classification was based on patient history. Cases of patients residing in Selangor for 2 weeks or less would be classified as imported. As shown above, there is an increase of local cases from 2006 to 2012 (except 2010), with the highest number of local cases (116) being reported in 2011. Imported cases, though decreasing from 2007, still remain higher than local cases with the highest number of imported cases (300) being reported in 2007. By 2012, there is an almost equal percentage of imported and local cases. Relapsed cases were also reported in all years except 2007 and 2012, with 17 cases being the highest in 2010. In all relapsed cases, <i>Plasmodium </i><i>vivax</i> was the infective agent. Some cases were denoted as unclassified due to lack of data. </p

Map of the study area showing the distribution of <i>Anopheles</i> species mosquitoes, macaque monkeys, and <i>P.knowlesi</i> malaria cases.

<p>Most of Selangor districts are exposed to <i>Anopheles </i><i>species</i> malaria vectors and <i>Macaca </i><i>fascicularis</i>. Only Hulu Selangor has reported <i>P. knowlesi</i> cases according to vector lab records.</p

Maps of confirmed reported malaria cases by district, 2006 to 2012.

<p>Malaria endemicity showing the distribution of malaria cases, as indicated by district-level estimates based on available survey data from the Klang Vector Laboratory, Selangor, Department of Health. The districts were generated into shaded maps, in which the values for the cases are represented in shades from light (low cases) to dark (high cases). (<b>A</b>) Map showing cases that originated from outside the state of Selangor (Imported cases) (<b>B</b>). Map showing malaria cases that originated locally within the State of Selangor (Local cases).</p

Malaria incidences caused by the different species of <i>Plasmodium</i> in Selangor (2006- 2012).

<p>Five different species of <i>Plasmodium</i> (excluding mixed cases) were identified as causes of malaria in Selangor (2006-2012). Based on the graph, from 2006 to 2012, the most common agent of malaria is <i>P. vivax</i>, followed by <i>P. falciparum</i> (with the exception of 2012, where <i>P. knowlesi</i> cases are second most common). More <i>P. knowlesi</i> cases are reported from 2008 onwards. The least common agent is <i>P. ovale</i>, with only one case in 2010. Mixed cases of <i>P. vivax</i> and <i>P. falciparum</i> are also noted in this graph.</p