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

Comparative Study on Beetles (Coleoptera) Diversity in Selected Oil Palm Plantation and Fragmented Forest

A total of 979 individuals comprising of 137 species from 32 families of beetles (Coleoptera) were collected in oil palm plantation and fragmented forest at PPB Oil Palm Plantation Saremas, Miri, Sarawak within 15 sampling days. Four method were used which is beating tray, hand picking method, pitfall trap and modified Pennsylvanian light trap. Based on the study, the occurrence of beetles in terms of abundance and diversity is higher at fragmented forest which is 595 individuals and 100 species compare to oil palm plantation which is 384 individuals and 81 species sampled. Relatively, very low species of beetles from family Cerambycidae (2 species), Cetoniidae (1 species) and Chrysomelidae (3 species) were captured at oil palm plantation area compared to fragmented forest area which is Cerambycidae (7 species), Cetoniidae (7 species), Chrysomelidae (9 species). The value of Shannon Diversity Index t-test for both site P = 0.0005. Thus, there is a significant difference between species diversity at oil palm plantation and fragmented forest. The abundance and diversity of beetles related to vegetation types and monoculture plantation at the study site