Kupu-kupu or rama-rama? The polemics of the Malay translation for butterflies and moths

The authorised and valid Malay translation for butterfly and moth are kupu-kupu and rama- rama respectively. However, there are currently some anomalies and inconsistencies in the usage of these common names. Some have argued that the use of kupu-kupu should be for moths, being nocturnally active, and analogous to the Malay idiom, kupu-kupu malam. However, kupu-kupu in this context is referring to the ‘streetwalkers of the night’, more oftenbeautiful and colourful (hence, more logical as a butterfly). This paper has two purposes. Firstly, to analyse the public usage of these terms and their perception in commercials, arts, folklore, and education. Secondly, to collate all relevant information, from Malaysia and Indonesia, which is directly related to this issue. A search was conducted using the Google search engine to check on the consistency of the terms kupu-kupu and rama-rama being used over the internet, concerning their proper and authorised translation. The articles were listed with their web addresses and later sorted according to their published dates, to check for any changing trends. It is shown that the most popular usage is still referring to the registered and authorised translation. However, the suggested use by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka has evolved ever since 2017, with rama-rama being synonymised with kupu-kupu, and its usage is more circumstantial. The arguments of various users, which include usage in commercials, arts, folklore, and education are discussed. A gradual change to the correct use of these standard terms may be required to avoid inconsistencies and confusion among students and the general public

An in vitro study of the antifungal activity of Trichoderma virens 7b and a profile of its non-polar antifungal components released against Ganoderma boninense

Ganoderma boninense is the causal agent of a devastating disease affecting oil palm in Southeast Asian countries. Basal stem rot (BSR) disease slowly rots the base of palms, which radically reduces productive lifespan of this lucrative crop. Previous reports have indicated the successful use of Trichoderma as biological control agent (BCA) against G. boninense and isolate T. virens 7b was selected based on its initial screening. This study attempts to decipher the mechanisms responsible for the inhibition of G. boninense by identifying and characterizing the chemical compounds as well as the physical mechanisms by T. virens 7b. Hexane extract of the isolate gave 62.60% ± 6.41 inhibition against G. boninense and observation under scanning electron microscope (SEM) detected severe mycelial deformation of the pathogen at the region of inhibition. Similar mycelia deformation of G. boninense was observed with a fungicide treatment, Benlate® indicating comparable fungicidal effect by T. virens 7b. Fraction 4 and 5 of hexane active fractions through preparative thin layer chromatography (P-TLC) was identified giving the best inhibition of the pathogen. These fractions comprised of ketones, alcohols, aldehydes, lactones, sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes, sulphides, and free fatty acids profiled through gas chromatography mass spectrometry detector (GC/MSD). A novel antifungal compound discovery of phenylethyl alcohol (PEA) by T. virens 7b is reported through this study. T. virens 7b also proved to be an active siderophore producer through chrome azurol S (CAS) agar assay. The study demonstrated the possible mechanisms involved and responsible in the successful inhibition of G. boninense

Bunch moth, Tirathaba rufivena (lepidoptera: pyralidae) infestation census from oil palm plantation on peat soil in Sarawak

Tirathaba rufivena is the major pest in oil palm plantation planted in peat soil in Sarawak. High infestation was reported in Miri, Mukah and Sibu. Censuses on the infestation of T. rufivena were conducted at three different locations, i.e. in Miri (young palm), Mukah (mature palm) and Sibu (ablation samples). Samples for census were taken from infested bunches, female and male inflorescences. The census was done by chopping the bunches and the female inflorescences while for the male inflorescences, the bottom of spikelets were cut to determine the number of live larvae and pupae. The census reveiled that in Sibu, a high infestation of T. rufivena was found on male inflorescences compared to bunches of female inflorescences. The mean number of live larvae found in male inflorescences for the first and second day of census recorded 35.3 ± 15.7 and 14.0 ± 7.3, respectively. The highest number of live larvae recorded from male inflorescences was 207 and 65, respectively. Meanwhile, the mean number of live larvae from infested bunches and female inflorescences on the first day were 9.9 ± 3.5 and 19.4 ± 4.4, respectively. On the second day of census, the mean number of live larvae recorded on bunches and female inflorescences were 4.8 ± 1.5 and 12.7 ± 2.8, respectively. Census on infested area in Miri from three different stages of female inflorescence and bunches recorded 8.0 ± 1.9 and 4.8 ± 0.6 highest number of live larvae. Post anthesis female inflorescences recorded the highest mean number of live larvae compared to pre anthesis and anthesising female inflorescences. Population study at Mukah on highly infested area recorded 60 live larvae from young bunches and 50 live larvae from matured female inflorescences. Based on the samples, bunch moth larvae or pupae were absent in 10% of infested female inflorescences and 11.7% of infested bunches (males and females inflorescences)

Fish Fauna and Water Quality under Different Land Uses at Sungai Asap, Belaga Sarawak

This study was carried out at Sungai Asap in Belaga, Sarawak with the objectives of documenting fish fauna composition and diversity and water quality under three different land uses, namdy, the 23-year logged over forest, I O-year old oil palm plantation and subsistence farming area. Fish fauna were sampled from eight selected stations using electroshocking devices. A total of six families represented by 17 genera and 27 species were recorded from the study area. The two dominant families are Cyprinidae and Balitoridae representing 55% and 39% of the total number of individuals caught respectively. The total number of species caught ranged from 11 species at Station 6 to 17 species at Station 2. Dissolved oxygen ranged from 6.47 mg/I to 7.09 mg!l, pH ranged from 6.59 to 7.51 and temperature ranged from 23.2 °C to 26.6 ne. The composition of fish caught was typical of those found in other similar order streams in Sarawak. However, the number of species present was lower than those reported in other studies mainly because the streams at this study area are narrower and shallower and therefore less habitat heterogeneity to support more species. Different land uses were found to affect the composition and diversity of fish fauna as shown by the lower values of diversity, richness and evenness indices at the 10-year old oil palm plantation

The diet of yellow-vented bulbul (pycnonotus goiavier) in oil palm agroecosystems

The Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) is one of the most sighted birds in oil palm plantation. A study on their dietary habits was conducted at the Durafarm Oil Palm Plantation from February 2011 to May 2013 to determine the reason behind their abundance. In this study, 45 individuals of P. goiavier were dissected for stomach content analysis. Ivlev's electivity index (E) was used to measure the degree of food selection by P. goiavier. The results showed that this bird species mainly selected the Order Coleoptera (mostly pollinating weevil) (E= +0.97) and Homoptera (E= +0.87) as their main food sources in the oil palm plantation. This bird also selected Order Diptera (E= -0.30), Hemiptera (E= -0.43) and Hymenoptera (E= -0.92) as a prey based on their abundance. However, this species mainly avoided feeding on insects from Order Odonata, Orthoptera, Dictyoptera and Lepidoptera (E=-1.0 each) in oil palm plantation. There is a weak negative correlation found for the distribution of P. goiavier with the abundance of insects in oil palm plantation. Further investigation is needed on this bird species towards predating the oil palm pollinating weevil, since it could possibly affect the population density of the pollinating weevil and subsequently the oil palm fruit set