Cratojoppa maculata Cameron (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae) new record to Malaysia

Cratojoppa maculata is reported as new record to the fauna of Ichneumoninae from Malaysia. Five specimens was collected from malaise trap during field work sampling in Pasoh Forest Reserved in Negeri Sembilan between May 2002 until March 2003. The species was first time described by Cameron in 1907 based on specimen from Sikkim, India. The discovery of this species contributed to the fauna of the genus Cratojoppa in Malaysia apart from two species namely Cratojoppa ornaticeps and Cratojoppa maculiceps. In oriental region it has previously been found in China, India and Myanmar only. Key to three species of genus Cratojoppa found in Malaysia is provided

Phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of Centaurea senegalensis growing in Nigeria

The increasing prevalence of drug resistant pathogens in developing countries has necessitated research for effective therapeutic agents from plants. This study was designed to evaluate the antibacterial properties of Centaurea senegalensis and investigate the phytochemical constituents. The plant sample was extracted using methanol and subjected to successive partition with n-hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate. The methanol extract (ME), hexane (HF), dichloromethane (DF) and ethylacetate (EF) fractions were subjected to antibacterial screening on selected gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria using agar well and micro broth dilution methods. The antibacterial efficacies of extracts showed varying zones of growth inhibitions (15-31 mm). The DF fraction was effective on Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) with interesting activity (28 mm, MIC 12.5 mgmL-1). However, the EF was most effective fraction against gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli (31 mm, MIC, 12.5 mgmL-1). Chemical composition of bioactive fraction was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The compounds detected were largely natural acetylenes such as 1, 5-heptadien-3-yne (23.2%), 2-hexyne-1-ol (12.3%), 2-methyl-1,5-hexadien-3-yne (6.6%) and 5-methyl-1-hexyn-3-ol (2.1%) as most abundant phytoconstituents identified. C. senegalensis fractions have demonstrated effective activity on both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, which might be attributed to acetylene derived natural compounds. Our findings have shown the importance of C. senegalensis as source of chemical compounds with effective antibacterial properties.Keywords: Centaurea senegalensis, phytochemical screening, antibacterial activity, GC-M

Effect of nitrogen rates on the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) population infesting chilli (Capsicum annum L.)

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is considered the most important whitefly species harmful to agriculture. Experiments were conducted at MARDI Station in Jalan Kebun, Klang, Selangor from 9 September 2006 to 11 November 2007. The objective of this study was to evaluate the population of whitefly on chilli plants fertilised with different rates of nitrogen (0, 33, 43, 53 g/plant). The results showed that high rates of nitrogen treatment significantly (P<0.05) increased B. tabaci immature population as compared to lower rate treatments. The mean number of B. tabaci immature per plant stratum was significantly different (P<0.05) among plant strata as well as among the treatments. Generally, the mean number of B. tabaci eggs and larvae was significantly (P<0.05) greater in the upper strata than in the middle and lower plant strata. Whereas, the mean number of B. tabaci pupa was significantly greater in the lower strata than in the upper and middle plant strata. The mean number of B. tabaci immature was significantly different (P<0.05) among the sampling periods in all treatment. Generally, B. tabaci population was significantly greater during the early season and gradually declined as the season progressed except during the third and seventh week after transplanting

Composition and abundance of collembola in primary and logged over forest.

The composition and abundance of collembola among three different forest habitats of the Sungai Lalang Forest Reserve, Selangor Malaysia were compared.The three forest habitats selected were primary forest,5-year old logged over forest(LOF) and 10-year old LOF. Result shows that primary forest had higher total number of Collembola as compared to that of LOF. Members of the entomobryidae had the most number of individual while onychiuidae, and isotomidae was found only in 5-year old LOF. Result of this study implies that primary forest conditions have a significant impact on abundance and composition of collembola communities

Redescription of Paleosepharia azlani (Mohamedsaid, 1998) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae)

Monolepta azlani Mohamedsaid 1998 is redescribed as a new combination to be Paleosepharia azlani (Mohamedsaid, 1998). A total of 125 specimens were examined. based on morphological and genital characters. Illustration and redescription including genital characters have been presented

A taxonomic update of Takahashi’s historic collection of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) from Malaysia and Singapore

Dr. Ryoichi Takahashi collected mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) from Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore in 1943–1944, and mounted them in 39 permanent slide mounts using Canada balsam. The slides are deposited in the Department of Agriculture, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The objective of this research was to update the identification of Takahashi’s specimens using recent taxonomic keys. Some preparations on cavity slides were re-mounted to facilitate identification. The re-mounted specimens, and those on the original slides, were re-examined and 12 species were identified. The Takahashi samples of Pseudococcus comstocki (Kuwana) and Rastrococcus mangiferae (Green) are the earliest records of these species from Peninsular Malaysia

New species of the genus Tabanus linnaeus, 1758 (diptera: tabanidae) from Malaysia

Tabanids are true flies, with medical and veterinary importance. In the current report, a new species; Tabanus zuhairi sp. nov. is described. Main taxonomic characters including antennae, frons, and palpi are illustrated. The new species is recognized based on the cross-band of the wing and shiny subcallus

Toxicity studies on the methanol leaf extract of Ziziphus mucronata willd

No Abstract

NEW INDONESIAN COUNTRY RECORDS AND SPECIES INFORMATION FOR MEALYBUGS (HEMIPTERA PSEUDOCOCCIDAE) IN WIRJATI’S HISTORIC COLLECTION

Between 1955 and 1960, a collection of slide-mounted mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) was prepared by Mrs Wirjati, using samples collected between 1916 and 1960 from a variety of hosts in Indonesia. The collection is a record of which species were established in the country in 1960. The slides, deposited at the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture in Java, are the earliest material in the national mealybug collection. There are 181 temporary slide mounts of unstained, waxy mealybugs mounted in agar or gum chloral media that have dried out to varying degrees. Specimens were retrieved from 50 representative slides and re-mounted as stained, archival mounts in Canada balsam. The method used to retrieve the specimens from the old mounts is described. The re-mounted specimens were re-identified using up-to-date, published identification keys, resulting in new identities for most of the  specimens. Fifteen species belonging to 12 genera were identified, however specimens from four of the slides  could not be identified beyond genus level. The Wirjati slides of Antonina thaiensis Takahashi, Hordeolicoccus nephelii (Takahashi) and Paraputo corbetti (Takahashi) are new country records. The differences between the fauna in Wirjati’s collection and that found in Indonesia today are discussed

Determination of Saturated Hydrocarbon from Nigerian Crude Oil from Selected Oil Wells: A Comparative Study

The saturated hydrocarbons were isolated from the crude oil samples by the use of SARA separation and column chromatography methods. The fractions obtained were identified using GC-MS. The result shows that the saturated hydrocarbons presence in the samples indicate that all the samples spectra indicated the presence of Trans-decalin-2-methyl, Dodecane, Tridecane, Tetradecane, Pentadecane, Hexadecane, Octadecane, Nonadecane and Eicosane, all at a minimum quality of correlation of 70%.  The result of the GC-MS indicated that sample D has the highest number of saturated hydrocarbons presence in a minimum quality of % correlation of 70% and sample E has the lowest amount of saturated hydrocarbons. Keywords: Crude oil drilling, GC-MS, Sara analysis, Saturated hydrocarbons, Trans-decalin-2-methy