Sains Malaysiana 39(2)(2010): 329–331

RESEARCH NOTES

First Report of Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel (Psocoptera: Liposcelidae) as a Museum Insect Pest in Malaysia

(Laporan Pertama Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel (Psocoptera: Liposcelidae) sebagai Serangga Perosak Muzium di Malaysia)

Heo Chong Chin*^{, 1} John Jeffery², Nazni Wasi Ahmad¹, Heah Sock Kiang¹,

Baharudin Omar³, Hidayatulfathi Othman¹ & Lee Han Lim¹

¹Medical Entomology Unit

Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50588 Kuala Lumpur

²Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine

Universiti Malaya, 56000 Kuala Lumpur.

³Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur.

Received: 12 June 2009 / Accepted: 26 August 2009

ABSTRACT

This paper reports the infestation of psocid, Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel (Psocoptera: Liposcelidae) in the insect museum at Medical Entomology Unit, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur. These tiny organisms were recognised as museum insect pest and found frequently in the insect boxes containing mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches and butterflies. They feed on dead insect specimens and cause severe physical damages to the valuable reference specimens collected in the early 20^th century. Hence, it is important to control their population immediately to prevent them from causing further deterioration to the museum collection.

Keywords: Insect pest; Liposcelis bostrychophila; Malaysia; museum

ABSTRAK

Kertas ini melaporkan infestasi oleh sejenis serangga perosak, Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel (Psocoptera: Liposcelidae) di Muzium Serangga, Unit Entomologi Perubatan, Institut Penyelidikan Perubatan, Kuala Lumpur. Serangga perosak yang bersaiz kecil ini selalu dijumpai di dalam kotak penyimpan serangga yang mengandungi spesimen seperti nyamuk, lalat, lipas dan rama-rama. Serangga perosak ini akan memakan dan merosakkan keadaan fizikal spesimen-spesimen yang bernilai tinggi memandangkan spesimen ini telah dikutip dan disimpan pada awal abad ke-20. Oleh sebab itu, adalah penting sekali untuk mengawal populasi serangga perosak ini untuk mengelakkan kerosakan spesimen rujukan terjadi selanjutnya.

Kata kunci: Liposcelis bostrychophila; Malaysia; muzium; serangga perosak

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*Corresponding author; email: chongchin83@yahoo.com