Distribution of the synchronous flashing beetle, Pteroptyx tener olivier (Coleoptera: lampyridae), in Malaysia.

Jusoh, Wan Faridah Akmal, Hashim, Nor Rasidah, Adam, Nur Azura (2013): Distribution of the Synchronous Flashing Beetle,Pteroptyx tener Olivier (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), in Malaysia. The Coleopterists Bulletin 67 (4): 604-605, DOI: 10.1649/0010-065x-67.4.604, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1649/0010-065x-67.4.60

Distribution and abundance of Pteroptyx fireflies in Rembau-Linggi Estuary, Peninsular Malaysia.

Prior to this study, no scientific documentation of firefly distribution and abundance in the Rembau-Linggi estuary, Peninsular Malaysia had been made. Therefore, this study provides important baseline information for the conservation of Pteroptyx spp. and their habitats. Our study was conducted over six months (2008 and 2009) during which we surveyed the distribution and abundance (percentage cover) of congregating fireflies, Pteroptyx spp., in the estuary. We also recorded the plant species on which adult fireflies congregate to mate along the rivers. Our main findings were: 1 Pteroptyx spp. populations occupied the lengths of 0.7 - 9 km of the main rivers in the study area. 2. The percentage of Pteroptyx population size fluctuated over time. 3. The Pteroptyx colonies congregated mainly on four plant species: Sonneratia caseolaris, Rhizophora apiculata, Hibiscus tiliaceus and Ficus sp

Ant diversity in a Peninsular Malaysian mangrove forest and oil palm plantation.

In Malaysia, it is a common practice to convert mangrove forests into agricultural plantations, especially oil palm. The study was carried out in Rembau, Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 9 species were found in the oil palm plantations & mangrove forests. The number of species found in each sampling plot was low: 3-4 for oil palm plots & 2-4 for mangrove forest plots. Four species (Paratrechina sp., Cardiocondyla sp., Monomorium sp. 2, & Odontomachus simillimus) found in the plantation plots were absent in the mangrove plots, while 2 (Anoplolepis sp. & Pheidole sp.) found in the mangrove plots were not detected in oil palm. The 2 species most frequent in mangroves (Pseudolasius sp. & Euprenolepis sp.) were rarer in the plantations

Heavy metal concentrations in an important mangrove palm (Nypa fruticans), in Rembau-Linggi Mangrove Forest (Peninsular Malaysia).

Plants and microorganisms are becoming commonly used worldwide to remediate heavy metal pollution. However, plant species vary in their ability to take up heavy metals or in their tolerance to high concentrations of heavy metals in soils or water. In this study we analyzed heavy metal (cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and zinc) concentrations in an important mangrove palm in Malaysia: Nypa fruticans. The plant samples as well as samples of surrounding sediment were taken from the Rembau-Linggi mangrove forest in the southwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The results showed that the uptake of heavy metals by the roots of Nypa fruticans was good for all heavy metals except Cu. However, only Zn was easily translocated to the leaves. Therefore, further studies need to be made to determine whether heavy metals such as Cr, Cu and Cd will become more available for uptake by N. fruticans during episodes of increased heavy metal runoffs or pollution into the mangrove forests

Firefly distribution and abundance on mangrove vegetation assemblages in Sepetang estuary, Peninsular Malaysia

Pteroptyx fireflies are commonly reported to congregate in large numbers in mangroves. Not much is known about the relationships between firefly distribution and abundance with specific mangrove vegetation assemblages. We conducted a study to investigate the vegetation assemblages that structure the distribution and abundance of Pteroptyx tener in Peninsular Malaysia. The distribution and abundance of fireflies were assessed along an 8 km stretch of mangroves in Sepetang estuary using visual assessment. Statistical analysis was carried out to test the correlation between length of display section and percentage cover of P. tener colonies and the relationship between percentage cover of fireflies with different vegetation assemblages. Five distinct vegetation assemblages were identified comprising different combination of four mangrove species. It was found that shorter display sections had higher percentage cover of P. tener colonies. In addition, vegetation assemblage which consisting of mainly Sonneratia caseolaris and Nypa fruticans was the most preferred type. The results of this study point to the necessity to consider not only a single mangrove species but the entire vegetation assemblage for firefly conservation

Distribution and Abundance of Pteroptyx Fireflies in Rembau-Linggi Estuary, Peninsular Malaysia

Prior to this study, no scientific documentation of firefly distribution and abundance in the Rembau-Linggi estuary, Peninsular Malaysia had been made. Therefore, this study provides important baseline information for the conservation of Pteroptyx spp. and their habitats. Our study was conducted over six months (2008 and 2009) during which we surveyed the distribution and abundance (percentage cover) of congregating fireflies, Pteroptyx spp., in the estuary. We also recorded the plant species on which adult fireflies congregate to mate along the rivers. Our main findings were: 1 Pteroptyx spp. populations occupied the lengths of 0.7 - 9 km of the main rivers in the study area. 2. The percentage of Pteroptyx population size fluctuated over time. 3. The Pteroptyx colonies congregated mainly on four plant species: Sonneratia caseolaris, Rhizophora apiculata, Hibiscus tiliaceus and Ficus sp

Integrative taxonomy and molecular phylogenetic analysis of bent-winged fireflies (coleoptera: lampyridae: pteroptyx) in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak

Species delineation using integrative taxonomy has become popular since about a decade ago. Integrative taxonomy entails the use of multiple tools including DNA barcoding and morphological examination of specimens. Integrative taxonomy has reduced major problems in taxonomy such as the presence of cryptic species and the overabundance of synonymous names. In this study, the application of integrative taxonomy in Malaysian firefly taxonomy was presented. To do so, the diversity of fireflies in mangrove estuaries was explored by combining data of geographic distribution, morphology, DNA sequencing and phylogeny of fireflies. The geographic location was restricted to 11 mangrove sites in Malaysia, from which 756 specimens were studied. Morphological data was found to be compatible with molecular data and all species were monophyletic, i.e. both indicated 12 species including non-bent-winged firefly species. However, inclusion of females and larvae in DNA barcoding analysis increased the species count to 14 species. Using combined molecular datasets of three genes (mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase I (COI), mtDNA fragment containing the 3’ end of COI gene, the adjacent complete of tRNAleu gene and the 5’ end of the COII gene (COI-COII) and nuclear protein coding gene CAD)), the Bayesian analysis revealed that Pteroptyx was a monophyletic clade but it was clustered into two groups: A. (Pteroptyx asymmetria + P. tener + P. bearni); B (Pteroptyx gelasina, Pteroptyx malaccae and Pteroptyx valida). The intraspecific variations in two bent-winged firefly species, Pteroptyx bearni Olivier and Pteroptyx tener Olivier arising from geographical isolation were confirmed. The analysis also supported the position of P. gelasina in the same clade with P. malaccae but with strong posterior probability to be distinguished as a distinct species. Consequently, a list of species and DNA barcode reference library of Malaysian fireflies were created for the first time. This study therefore supports the perspective that integrative taxonomy will speed up species discovery while maintaining species inventories. The application of such information for firefly and mangrove conservation is highly recommended

Zonation of firefly species and their display trees along kerteh river, Terengganu

The zonation of firefly species and their display trees under Kerteh River, Terengganu was studied in July 2009. Results showed that the adults of two firly species, ( Pteroptyx tener and pteroptyx bearni) were congregating on 170 trees (belonging to 27 different species), located along 1-15 km from the river mounth. it was observed that the spatial distributions of the two pteroptyx species were divided into three zones along the river. The mangrove habitats in the study area were in relatively good condition as evidenced from the high number of plant species, and that such condition was important for the coexistence of the two pteroptyx sp

The strange case of Colophotia miranda Olivier, 1886 (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae)

Insecta mundi0857Articles 0856-0859(March 2021)1-9United State