Serangga dan mitos suku kaum jakun, Kampung Peta, Mersing Johor

This study focuses on seeing insects from the mythical perspective of the Orang Asli tribe of Jakun, Kampung Peta, Mersing Johor. The existence of insects in the life of every ethnic in Malaysia has brought various elements of myths. Therefore, when combining myths and insects, it could be said that myth is a human way of understanding, expressing and linking insects to him/herself as well as a group/culture. The practice of using insects among ethnic groups in daily life is called etnoentomology. In this study, the insects studied are the butterfly (Lepidoptera), the odonates (Odonata) and the cicadas (Homoptera). This is because these insects are very popular in the community and have their own myths that are brought into the local culture of belief

Semakan Genus Pomponia Stal dan Puranoidesmoulton (Homoptera: Cicadidae)

Sejumlah 79 spesies riang-riang daripada genus Pomponia (71 spesies) dan Puranoides (8 spesies) telah direkodkan darl tiga depositor! di Eropah laitu BMNH, ZMAN dan RMNH. Inl adalah berdasarkan pemerlksaan ke atas 1162 spesimen, mewakill 52, 30, 28 dan 20 spesies, masing-masing darl BMNH, ZMAN, RMNH dan lain-lain depositor! (ROM, ZSM, NHMW, MNHP, CASC., NHMW, HNHM, KBIN, MZHF dan NHMD, yang sedang dalam plnjaman dan dislmpan di ZMAN). Daripada 79 spesies yang direkodkan, hanya 26 spesies yang telah diperihalkan berjaya ditemul (masing-masing 22 dan empat spesies bagi genus Pomponia dan Puranoides). Semua spesimen tip bagl 26 spesies yang telah direkodkan dalam kajian lni telah diperlksa dan dirujuk. Speslmen tip bagl 19 dan dua spesles untuk Pomponia dan Puranoldes terslmpan dalam depositorl BMNH manakala seleblhnya laitu tiga dan dua spesies bagi genus yang sama tersimpan dalam depositori UKM ( dlperlksa dan dirujuk sebelum kajian inl bermula). Genus Pomponia telah dikenalpastJ mempunyal 10 kumpulan-spesies melalul penggabungan dan pengelompokan spesies iaitu kumpulan-decem, kumpulan-picta, kumpulan-/inear

Composition and Diversity of Aquatic Insects at Hutan Lipur Bukit Soga Perdana, Batu Pahat, Johor

Human activities such as agriculture would negatively affect the quality of water sources and becomes a factor to the reduction of the composition of aquatic insects. A study was conducted to determine the composition of aquatic insects and correlation made between its composition and habitat in Soga Perdana Amenity Forest  or locally known as Hutan Lipur Soga Perdana (HLSP), Batu Pahat, Johor. Samples were collected by using Kicking net for three days. A total of 794 individuals of aquatic insects representing 31 families from seven orders were collected. The orders ranked from the most family rich to the least showed that Diptera has seven families (22.6%); Trichoptera six families (19.4%); Ephemeroptera with five families (16.1%); Odonata, four families (12.9%); Coleoptera, four families (12.9%), Hemiptera, three families (9.7%) and Plecoptera, two  (6.5%). Most abundant were from families Leptophelibidae (Ephemeroptera with 131 individuals), Simuliidae (Diptera with 95 individuals) and Heptageniidae (Ephemeroptera with 92 individuals). Further analysis were carried out using several assessment index which were normally used. In this study Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI), Biological  Monitoring Working Party (BWMP) and EPT index were calculated. Results showed that HLBSP water body is of good quality and observed to be free from any anthropogenic activities. Eventhough with quantitatively limited supply, the available water bodies in this area supported high taxa richness with 31 families. For future conservation, works to preserve water bodies at HLBSP have to be done, since it is a water supply to maintain the forest regeneration in the reserve. Maintaining HLBSP is critical, because it plays an important ecological role as the green lung for the highly industrial district of Batu Pahat

Sustainability: Linking Built and Natural Environment

Sustainable is allowing something to continue for a period of time, and sustainability denotes the noun for the effort, to continue. Relating this term to the natural environment, would means the ability of earths various systems including human cultural systems and economies to survive and adapt to changing environmental conditions. Built and natural environment exist in the same space and time. The earth has existed about 3.7 billion years ago; and through several major global changes has managed to retain harmony between living and the non-living components. With the arrival of human being estimated some 350,000 years ago, global changes become more intense and unpredictable. Human activities have impacted on the ecosystem equilibrium and negative effects are being felt by people: global warming, increase in pollution level and rate of biodiversity erosion are some issues frequently quoted. As people race to achieve socio-economic development ranking, they lose sight of their role as stewards of the environment. Being created divine, equipped with brain and aqal human could still turn back, learn some lessons and move forward to better the earth, not only for themselves but the future generations. This paper will discuss how to simulate some sustainability principles from nature to guide and assist people in handling built environment, to achieve sustainable living, in the Malaysian context. Examples given are often at micro-level: activities that could be carried out by a single human being, which when accumulate may produce substantial changes. Before too late, it is time to learn and copy how nature sustains itself to help guide in managing our built environment, to achieve sustainable living

A Note on The Butterflies of Gunung Belumut, Kluang Forest Reserve, Malaysia

A butterfly survey was done in Gunung Belumut Amenity Forest located within Kluang Forest Reserve, Johor. Sampling was done through manual collection using aerial nets and baited traps. A total of 128 individuals comprising 64 species were collected. Despite the high plant species richness in Kluang Forest Reserve, the butterfly diversity observed within Gunung Belumut Amenity Forest was relatively low when compared to other forested areas in Johor. This may be attributed to the abundance of oil palm plantation surrounding the area.  However, it is likely that there are more species within Kluang Forest Reserve, especially in the higher elevations of Gunung Belumut. Further sampling may add some new records to this checklist. &nbsp

Pest management challenge in Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia natural history repository

Under the Malaysian Universities Act 1971, Higher Learning Institutions are encouraged to set up museums that could support teaching and learning at the institution. With that provision, the Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) Natural History Repository was formed in 2014, to support the newly developed BSc Program called Biodiversity and Conservation. Under the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Centre of Research - Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources (CoR-SUNR), develops and organizes the repository. Currently the repository is sited at a shoplot building in Parit Raja Campus that had been modified as part of campus expansion plan. The process of converting this shoplot building into functional gallery/storage space introduced a new challenge in pest management. The goals were to ensure whatever pests already present are eradicated, determine ways to seal out future pests, stabilize the condition to decrease pest infestation, and establish a monitoring program. Baseline pest data were collected via trapping throughout the repository spaces before, during, and after retrofit construction. Data from trapping were used to assess pest problems, and actions to eliminate these pests were initiated. A year-long survey of pests was performed after staff and collections occupied the building. The results showed variation in pest diversity and populations. Having succeeded in controlling insects pest problems at UTHM Natural History Repository would lead to better teaching/learning experience for graduates as well as promoting public awareness and education especially among young public on biodiversity

Diversity and Species Composition of Odonates (Insecta: Odonata) of Hutan Lipur Soga Perdana, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia: A Green Lung

In Malaysia, Odonates have been used widely in the assessment of water quality. This study is part of an effort to prepare a baseline data for the state of Johor, where development is happening at a fast rate which in turn could affect the water quality. Hutan Lipur Bukit Soga Perdana is a green lung for Batu Pahat which is considered as the second largest industrial town in Malaysia. Opportunistic sampling using sweep nets along 1 km line transect was conducted for a total of six days. Twenty-two species of Odonata belonging to 17 genera and seven families were recorded. Among the seven families, the most species-rich were Libellulidae (12 species) followed by Coenagrionidae and Platycnemididae (three species) while Gomphidae, Platystictidae, Devadattidae and Euphaeidae represented by single species. Drepanosticta fontinalis, a damselfly endemic to Peninsular Malaysia was collected. The abundance of the endemic Drepanosticta fontinalis was 10.3% from a total of 126 individuals. Tyriobapta torrida (15.9%) was found to be the most abundant species found followed by Prodasineura notostigma (12.7%) and Neurothemis fluctuans (11.9%). The data were further analysed by using Shannon-Wiener Species Diversity Index giving a value of 2.63 indicating a moderate diversity. Simpson’s Evenness is 0.91 indicating a high evenness in the distribution of Odonates. Since the forest gains high public interest in Batu Pahat and Odonates are visible and useful insects, more studies could be done, and the data could be transferred to the public as a model for biodiversity and conservation

Phytochemical analysis and screening of the fungus Calostoma Sp. found in Tawau for bioactive and pharmacologically active compounds

The purpose of this research is to analyze the potential of the polysaccharides extracted from Calostoma sp. mushroom, which is proven to have bioactive properties through bioassays. The morphology of the genus Calostoma was investigated by scanning electron microscope and light microscopy showed differences. The mushroom species was confirmed as Calostoma insignis. The antimicrobial tests of crude polysaccharide extracts of C. insignis on three bacterial pathogens were done by disk diffusion and agar overlay techniques. The sensitivity of test pathogens was in decreasing order: P. aeruginosa > S. aureus > E. coli. The antioxidant assays shows promising results in Ascorbic acid Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity assay (ICso = 184 µg/mL). The Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity assay showed values of 1 mg/mL and 2 mg/mL and the Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma assay showed values of 87 mrnol/g and 297 mrnol/g for ethanolic and aqueous extracts respectively. The aqueous extract had a higher potency antioxidant activity than ethanolic extract. The ethanolic extract inhibited the growth of some bacteria proves that C. insignis may be tantamount to treat strains of bacteria. These findings are of significance to use the fruit-bodies for antioxidant and antimicrobial activities to reduce the demands on endangered species