Sains Malaysiana 40(8)(2011): 877–878

RESEARCH NOTES

New Lymantriidae Record for Peninsular Malaysia: Toxoproctis hemibathes (Swinhoe)

(Rekod Baru Lymantriidae untuk Semenanjung Malaysia: Toxoproctis hemibathes (Swinhoe))

Norela Sulaiman*, Mohd Faizal Rus Rzerli & Maimon Abdullah

Center for Insect Systematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

Received: 5 April 2010 / Accepted: 7 July 2010

ABSTRACT

This paper reports on a new record of the itch moth from the family Lymantriidae, Toxoproctis hemibathes (Swinhoe), for Peninsular Malaysia. The islands of Sumatera and Borneo are known to be within the geographical range of Lymantriidae, their habitat preference being the wetland and coastal forests. Our study showed that this species can also erupt in large numbers in specific locations in the southern parts of Peninsular Malaysia and thus, our finding is considered a new record for T. hemibathes (Swinhoe). This specimens were collected using portable ultra violet (UV) light trap during a population outbreak of this species in the Labis District of Johore.

Keywords: Itch moth; geographical range; lowland forests; Lymantriidae; specimen

ABSTRAK

Laporan ini merupakan rekod baru tentang rama-rama yang menyebabkan kegatalan daripada famili Lymantriidae, Toxoproctis hemibathes (Swinhoe), di Semenanjung Malaysia. Kepulauan Sumatera dan Borneo diketahui berada dalam lingkungan geografi rama-rama ini, habitat pilihannya ialah kawasan yang lembap dan hutan pantai. Kajian kami menunjukkan bahawa spesies ini boleh meledak dalam jumlah yang besar di lokasi tertentu di bahagian selatan Semenanjung Malaysia dan dengan demikian, ia merupakan rekod baru untuk T. hemibathes (Swinhoe). Spesimen telah dikumpul dengan menggunakan perangkap cahaya ultra violet (UV) mudah alih ketika ledakan populasi spesies ini berlaku di Mukim Labis Johor.

Kata kunci: Hutan tanah rendah; lingkungan geografi; Lymantriidae; rama-rama penyebab kegatalan; specimen

REFERENCES

Holloway, J.D. 1976. Moths of Borneo with Special Reference to Mt Kinabalu. Kuala Lumpur: Malayan Nature Society.

Holloway, J.D. 1999. The Moths of Borneo: Family Lymantriidae. Kuala Lumpur: Malayan Nature Society 53: 1-188.

Robinson, G.S., Ackery, P.R., Kitching, I.J., Beccaloni, G.W. & Hernandez, L.M. 2001. Hostplants of the Moth and Butterfly Caterpillars of the Oriental Region. Kuala Lumpur: Southdene and The Natural History Museum.

*Corresponding author; email: vozela@ukm.my