Comparative Study on Moths (Heterocera: Arctiidae) Diversity in Selected Oil Palm Plantation and Fragmented Forest

A study on species diversity of arctiid moths was carried out in oil palm plantation and fragmented forest of PPB Oil Palm Plantation, Miri. The main method was by using four modified Pennsylvanian light traps that left functioning from 6.30 p. m to 10.30 p. m. A total of 34 species and 638 individuals from four subfamilies were recorded. Overall, the subfamily Lithosiinae represented by the highest species number followed by Syntominae, Arctiinae and Aganainae. Eight species identified as endemic to Borneo while six rare species was also captured in this study. The Shannon- Weiner diversity indices (H') for each fragmented forest and oil palm plantation were same which were 2.840. There was higher number of total abundance and species abundance of arctiid moths in fragmented forest rather than in oil palm plantation. However, indices indicated that there was no significant difference between the study sites due to the higher number of shared species were identified

Insects

Cosmodela aurulenta (Coleoptera: Carabidae), or commonly known as the golden-spotted tiger beetle, is a species commonly found in open areas or in lowlands near riverbanks. The species is 14 to 16 mm in length, the body is dark greenish with three distinctive spots on each sides of the elytra. There is also the presence of pale coloured hairs on the abdomen and legs. The species are known to be opportunistic predators of smaller invertebrates, with characteristic large mandibles and enlarged compound eyes. The species is also observed to show brief flights