Odonata of Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia

Odonata records from Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve and the surrounding area in Johor, Peninsular Malaysia are presented. A total of 44 Odonata species from eight families were collected in the area in October 2012. All of these records are new to Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve. Indothemis carnitica is a new record for Malaysia

Sexing in Rattans

In Malaysia, rattans belonging to Calamus species are regarded as the most economically important non-wood resource from forest after timber. However, the genetic resource of rattans in the wild is much depleted due to over exploitation and lose of forest habitat. Therefore, there is a need to establish large scale plantation to produce enough canes for furniture and handicraft industries. Large scale planting requires sufficient planting materials, and the establishment of seed orchards for seed production is important for supplying sufficient planting materials. However, the dioecy in rattan limits its breeding and cultivation. The dioecious Calamus species have distinct male and female plants, and gender is identified only after the first flowering. Early identification of male and female individuals by molecular markers can help to address the limitation of dioecy for large scale planting. In this paper, we address the dioecy and sex ratio in Calamus species. Subsequently, we discuss the functional genomics of Calamus manan and C. palustris in understanding the sex determination and flower development in rattans

Systematic study on Guttiferae Juss. of Peninsular Malaysia based on plastid sequences

Twenty-one taxa in 4 genera (Calophyllum, Mammea, Mesua s.l. and Garcinia) of Guttiferae from several areas in Peninsular Malaysia were used to investigate the status and relationships of taxa within the family Guttiferae using the chloroplast DNA trnL-trnF sequence data. Molecular phylogeny results indicated that Calophyllum, Mammea and Garcinia are monophyletic genera. However, the genus Mesua appeared to be polyphyletic as Mesua ferrea did not form a cluster with the other Mesua taxa. Therefore, the molecular phylogeny supports the morphological classification that Mesua taxa in Peninsular Malaysia other than M. ferrea, be transferred back into genus Kayea. On the other hand, the molecular phylogeny disagrees with the morphological classification of Calophyllum wallichianum var. wallichianum and C. wallichianum var. incrassatum as varieties of C. wallichianum. Therefore, the status of these two varieties should be reinstated to distinct species as C. wallichianum and C. incrassatum respectively

Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) of Kadamaian, Kinabalu Park, Sabah

The Odonata fauna of Kadamaian was surveyed from 15th to19th October, 2019 during the Borneo Geographic Expedition 2019 Kadamaian. The altitude of the survey area ranged from 400 m to 850 m above sea level, representing the lower part of Kinabalu Park. A total of 23 species in nine families were recorded – 10 species in Libellulidae, three species in Platycnemididae, two species each in Platystictidae, Calopterygidae and Coenagrionidae, and one species each in Chlorocyphidae, Devadattidae, Euphaeidae and Synthemistidae. Of these, only one species is a new record for Kinabalu Park – Pericnemis dowi. The published Odonata records were compiled to produce a species list known from Kinabalu Park. The total number of species known to Kinabalu Park is now 71. Many more parts in Kinabalu Park need to be explored for a more comprehensive Odonata fauna of the park

Revised Checklist of the Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) of Borneo

The previous checklist of the Odonata of Borneo, in A.G. Orr’s “A guide to the dragonflies of Borneo: their identification and biology” published in 2003, is now almost 20 years old. A considerable amount of work on Borneo’s Odonata has been done since 2003 and 52 new species have been described from the island in the intervening years. Here we present an updated checklist of the Odonata of Borneo, listing 371 species and subspecies. The parts of the island, using national boundaries and administrative regions within countries: Brunei; the five provinces of Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo); Sabah and Sarawak and also the Federal Territory of Labuan (Malaysian Borneo), from which each taxon has been recorded are indicated and notes are included on some taxa. The records are drawn from published literature, but some unpublished records from the work of the authors and based on material in museums and other collections are also included, also a few records from the iNaturalist website (where there is no doubt over the identification) are also included; none of the latter are additions to the known fauna of Borneo. A few recent novel records for Borneo that we regard as in need of confirmation are discussed. The history of research on Odonata in, and the current state of knowledge of the Odonata of, each of the regions of Borneo is briefly discussed. The high percentage of Odonata species endemic to Borneo approximately 51% overall, 73% for the Zygoptera and 23% for the Anisioptera) is highlighted. It is noted that, all else remaining equal, a small drop in the numbers of endemic species is expected due to suspected synonyms and discoveries of species that had been regarded as endemic outside of Borneo, but on the other hand most new species discovered on the island in future will be endemic to Borneo. The importance of basic data collection and alpha taxonomy in research into Borneo’s Odonata is emphasized

Previously unpublished Odonata records from Sarawak, Borneo, part VI: Miri Division including checklists for Niah, Lambir Hills, Loagan Bunut and Pulong Tau National Parks

Recods of Odonata made from 2005 to 2020 in Miri Division in Sarawak are presented, including records from Lambir Hills, Loagan Bunut, Niah and Pulong Tau National Parks. Primary types of Odonata originating from Miri Division are listed. Surveys of more than one day duration in Miri Division and covered here are tabulated with the funding source where appropriate; four of the surveys covered here were funded by the International Dragonfly Fund. One hundred and eighty-eight species are listed based on surveys made by the authors, of which Macromia jucunda Lieftinck, 1955, had not been recorded from Borneo before, Burmagomphus arthuri Lieftinck, 1953 is a new record for Miri Division and Camacinia gigantea (Brauer, 1867) has only been recorded from the Division re-cently with the only published record in a difficult to access publication (Choong (2020)). At least 48 more of the species listed were recorded from Miri Division for the first time in surveys covered in this report, although the records have been published (in most cases with no details beyond division and district in Dow (2021)) before. Two forms of Xiphi-agrion cyanomelas Selys, 1876 are recorded and the likelihood that they represent different species is discussed. A possibly new, large sized, species of Macromia allied to M. westwoodii Selys, 1874 is recorded and discussed. Other notable records not published with details before include Rhinocypha stygia Förster, 1897, Rhinoneura caerulea Kimmins, 1936, Dysphaea lugens (Selys, 1873), Euphaea ameeka van Tol & Norma-Rashid, 1995, Euphaea basalis (Laidlaw, 1915), Amphicnemis new sp. cf mariae Lieftinck, 1940 (previously recorded from Usun Apau National Park), Anaciaeschna jaspidea (Burmeister, 1839), Heliaeschna uninervulata Martin, 1909, Borneogomphus sp., Heliogomphus borneensis Lieftinck, 1964, Ictinogomphus acutus (Laidlaw, 1914), Chlorogomphus sp., Macromia corycia Laidlaw, 1922, Idionyx montana Karsch, 1891, Hylaeothemis clementia Ris, 1909, Orchithemis xanthosoma Laidlaw, 1911, Rhyothemis fulgens Kirby, 1889, Rhyothemis regia (Brauer, 1867), Tetrathemis sp. cf platyptera Selys, 1878, Tramea phaeoneura Lieftinck, 1953 and Tramea sp. cf virginia (Rambur, 1842). The habitat preferences of Dysphaea lugens are discussed. A male-male tandem of Coeliccia nigrohamata Laidlaw, 1918 is reported. The somewhat peculiar distribution of Argiocnemis rubescens rubeola Selys, 1877 and Pseudothemis jorina Förster, 1904 in Sarawak is discussed. Activity of the apparently normally crepuscular Heliaeschna uninervulata in the middle of the day is reported. An interesting morphological detail of some female Chlorogomphus from Sarawak is discussed. The likelihood that Macromia corycia is a junior synonym of M. gerstaeckeri Krüger, 1899 is discussed. The possibility that the range of Rhyothemis regia is expanding in Sarawak is remarked upon. The identity of Tramea sp. cf virginia is discussed. With the records presented here at least 222 species of Odonata are known from Miri Division and with the addition of Macromia jucunda to the known fauna, 309 species have now been recorded from Sarawak. More detailed specimen records are given in Appendix 1 and a revised checklist of Odonata from Lambir Hills National Park and the first checklis from Loagan Bunut, Niah and Pulong Tau National Parks are given in Appendix 2

Previously unpublished Odonata records from Sarawak, Borneo, part VI: Miri Division including checklists for Niah, Lambir Hills, Loagan Bunut and Pulong Tau National Parks.

Recods of Odonata made from 2005 to 2020 in Miri Division in Sarawak are presented, including records from Lambir Hills, Loagan Bunut, Niah and Pulong Tau National Parks. Primary types of Odonata originating from Miri Division are listed. Surveys of more than one day duration in Miri Division and covered here are tabulated with the funding source where appropriate; four of the surveys covered here were funded by the International Dragonfly Fund. One hundred and eighty-eight species are listed based on surveys made by the authors, of which Macromia jucunda Lieftinck, 1955, had not been recorded from Borneo before, Burmagomphus arthuri Lieftinck, 1953 is a new record for Miri Division and Camacinia gigantea (Brauer, 1867) has only been recorded from the Division re-cently with the only published record in a difficult to access publication (Choong (2020)). At least 48 more of the species listed were recorded from Miri Division for the first time in surveys covered in this report, although the records have been published (in most cases with no details beyond division and district in Dow (2021)) before. Two forms of Xiphi-agrion cyanomelas Selys, 1876 are recorded and the likelihood that they represent different species is discussed. A possibly new, large sized, species of Macromia allied to M. westwoodii Selys, 1874 is recorded and discussed. Other notable records not published with details before include Rhinocypha stygia Förster, 1897, Rhinoneura caerulea Kimmins, 1936, Dysphaea lugens (Selys, 1873), Euphaea ameeka van Tol & Norma-Rashid, 1995, Euphaea basalis (Laidlaw, 1915), Amphicnemis new sp. cf mariae Lieftinck, 1940 (previously recorded from Usun Apau National Park), Anaciaeschna jaspidea (Burmeister, 1839), Heliaeschna uninervulata Martin, 1909, Borneogomphus sp., Heliogomphus borneensis Lieftinck, 1964, Ictinogomphus acutus (Laidlaw, 1914), Chlorogomphus sp., Macromia corycia Laidlaw, 1922, Idionyx montana Karsch, 1891, Hylaeothemis clementia Ris, 1909, Orchithemis xanthosoma Laidlaw, 1911, Rhyothemis fulgens Kirby, 1889, Rhyothemis regia (Brauer, 1867), Tetrathemis sp. cf platyptera Selys, 1878, Tramea phaeoneura Lieftinck, 1953 and Tramea sp. cf virginia (Rambur, 1842). The habitat preferences of Dysphaea lugens are discussed. A male-male tandem of Coeliccia nigrohamata Laidlaw, 1918 is reported. The somewhat peculiar distribution of Argiocnemis rubescens rubeola Selys, 1877 and Pseudothemis jorina Förster, 1904 in Sarawak is discussed. Activity of the apparently normally crepuscular Heliaeschna uninervulata in the middle of the day is reported. An interesting morphological detail of some female Chlorogomphus from Sarawak is discussed. The likelihood that Macromia corycia is a junior synonym of M. gerstaeckeri Krüger, 1899 is discussed. The possibility that the range of Rhyothemis regia is expanding in Sarawak is remarked upon. The identity of Tramea sp. cf virginia is discussed. With the records presented here at least 222 species of Odonata are known from Miri Division and with the addition of Macromia jucunda to the known fauna, 309 species have now been recorded from Sarawak. More detailed specimen records are given in Appendix 1 and a revised checklist of Odonata from Lambir Hills National Park and the first checklis from Loagan Bunut, Niah and Pulong Tau National Parks are given in Appendix 2

Perkembangan larva dan perihalan larva Indothemis carnatica (FABRICIUS, 1798) (INSECTA: ODONATA) dari semenanjung Malaysia

Instar terakhir larva Indothemis carnatica (Fabricius 1798) diperihalkan buat kali pertama berdasarkan larva dan eksuvianya. Ini juga merupakan kali pertama larva bagi genus Indothemis diperihalkan. Pada masa yang sama, perkembangan larva I. carnatica turut dikaji. Pembiakan larva bermula dari telur yang dikutip daripada seekor betina yang sedang bertelur di kolam yang terletak di Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kampus Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. Telur segar I. carnatica berwarna kuning dan mempunyai purata kepanjangan 0.48±0.02 mm dan purata lebar 0.36±0.01 mm. Telur mengambil sekurang-kurangnya tujuh hari untuk menetas. Perkembangan larva I. carnatica terdiri daripada 12–13 stadia dan ia mengambil masa 61–64 hari untuk melengkapkannya. Larva I. carnatica berbentuk bujur dan sedikit memanjang dengan kepanjangan badan 16.5 mm. Kehadiran duri pada abdomen larva adalah dalam jumlah kecil. Maklumat perkembangan larva I. carnatica dari proses penetasan telur hingga kemunculan larva adalah penting bagi tujuan pembiakan dan pemuliharaan spesies ini

Stand structure and the genetic diversity of koompassia malaccensis and dryobalanops aromatica in unlogged and logged-over stands = Struktur dirian dan kepelbagaian genetik koompassia malaccensis dan ryobalanops aromatica pada dirian yang belum dan yang telah dibalak

The disturbance level of two nearby logged stands, Compartment 118 and Compartment 69 were studied in Ulu Sedili Forest Reserve, Johor. The mean basal area for trees (trees ! 1 cm dbh) in logged stand of Compartment 118 showed 51% reduction in comparison to immediately before logging of the same stand. A similar level of reduction (47%) was observed for mean density of trees in Compartment 118. However, the mean basal area and mean density of tree were higher in 50-year logged Compartment 69 (21% and 122% respectively) compared to Compartment 118 before logging. Concurrently, we examined the effects of logging on genetic diversity of seedling, sapling and mature trees of two important timber species, Koompassia malaccensis and Dryobalanops aromatica using M13 universal primer (multilocus minisatellite DNA) and three other universally-primed primers. Mature trees of K. malaccensis showed 39% reduction in Shannon diversity index (H) in Compartment 69 compared to Compartment 118 before logging detected by M13 universal primer. This may be attributed to the small sample size of the species in Compartment 69. Reduction in H and polymorphic loci (P) for K. malaccensis was higher in seedlings, 5% and 56% respectively in Compartment 69 compared to mature trees (3% and 23% respectively). Contrastingly for seedlings and saplings of D. aromatica, increment in H was higher in Compartment 69 than Compartment 118 immediately after logging, which was 25% and 14% for seedlings while 21% and 14% for saplings, detected by M13 universal primer. The increased genetic diversity detected for this species may be due to its high density in Compartment 118 and Compartment 69. Loss in alleles caused a decline in H of K. malaccensis, especially mature trees in Compartment 69. On the other hand, H of D. aromatica was not affected by loss of alleles