Simulium (G.) bakalalanense, is described based on male, pupa and larvae collected in Mount Murud, Sarawak, Malaysia. S. (G.) bakalalanense sp. nov. is placed in the S. batoense species-group and is distinguished from most of known species of the group by the pupal gill with an inflated basal fenestra, shoe-shaped cocoon, and lack of grapnel-shaped hooklets on the pupal abdominal segment 9. Three known species, S. (G.) terengganuense Takaoka, Sofian-Azirun & Ya’cob from Peninsular Malaysia, S. (Simulium) alberti Takaoka from Sabah, and S. (S.) beludense Takaoka from Sabah, are newly recorded from Sarawak.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a floor gully come with grating to prevent the oviposition of Aedes aegypti in the floor trap. In order to conduct the test, two containers were placed into a mosquito cage (30 cm × 30 cm × 30 cm). Both containers were filled with declorinated seasoned tap water and covered with floor gully c/w grating and normal floor gully, respectively. A total of 50 gravid Ae. aegypti females were then released into the cage and left for a week. All the eggs obtained from the test were allowed to remain inside the containers for the eggs to hatch. The number of hatched larvae was counted and recorded. Five replicates were conducted concurrently. There was a significant difference of Ae. aegypti larvae obtained between container with floor gully c/w grating and normal floor gully (p <0.05). A total of 96.41% reduction of Ae. aegypti larvae was obtained in the container with floor gully c/w grating compared with the normal floor gully, indicating that the floor gully c/w grating used in this study was able to prevent oviposition of Ae. aegypti in holding water.

Laboratory-bred females of Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus from the insectarium, Unit of Medical Entomology, Institute for Medical Research were used in the experiment. The late third stage of the F0 larvae which survived the high selection pressure of malathion, permethrin and temephos were reared and colonies were established from adults that emerged. Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae were subjected to selection by malathion and permethrin for 40 generations, Ae. aegypti larvae to malathion, permethrin and temephos for 32 generations and Ae. albopictus larvae were selected against malathion and permethrin for 32 generations and 20 generations against temephos. The rate of resistance development was measured by LC50 value. Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae developed higher resistance to malathion and permethrin compared to Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. On the whole, permethrin resistance developed at a faster rate than malathion and temephos.
Permethrin ; Malathion ; Cancer resistance to treatment ; Aedes aegypti ; Aedes albopictus

Forensic entomology applies knowledge about insects associated with decedent in crime scene investigation. It is possible to calculate a minimum postmortem interval (PMI) by determining the age and species of the oldest blow fly larvae feeding on decedent. This study was conducted in Malaysia to identify maggot specimens collected during crime scene investigations. The usefulness of the molecular and morphological approach in species identifications was evaluated in 10 morphologically identified blow fly larvae sampled from 10 different crime scenes in Malaysia. The molecular identification method involved the sequencing of a total length of 2.2 kilo base pairs encompassing the 'barcode' fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI), cytochrome oxidase II (COII) and t-RNA leucine genes. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the presence of Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya rufifacies and Chrysomya nigripes. In addition, one unidentified blow fly species was found based on phylogenetic tree analysis.

Ovitrap surveillance was conducted in two urban residential areas (Taman Samudera Timur and Taman Samudera Selatan) and in a settlement area (Kampung Banjar), which is located 16 km from Kuala Lumpur city center, Malaysia. In Taman Samudera, dengue cases were reported monthly in 2003/2004. Thus, a study was initiated to determine the distribution and abundance of dengue vectors, Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. The ovitrap surveillance indicated that Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were present both indoors and outdoors. The residential sites had 73 - 79% of the ovitraps with just Ae. aegypti population and Kg. Banjar had 56% of the ovitraps with just Ae. aegypti. In the indoor and outdoor of the residential areas, together with the settlement area, the Ae. aegypti density was significantly more than Ae. albopictus (p < 0.05) by 3 - 50 folds. There was no significant difference in the larval numbers of Ae. aegypti between indoors and outdoors (p > 0.05), thus implicating that adult gravid female Ae. aegypti are present both indoors and outdoors and they do oviposit indoors and outdoors. Ae. aegypti can be incriminated as the principal dengue vector in the urban residential site, Taman Samudera and in the settlement area, Kg. Banjar.
Dengue ; legal surveillance ; Malaysia ; lower case pea ; Distributing

Forensic entomology applies knowledge about insects associated with decedent in crime scene investigation. It is possible to calculate a minimum postmortem interval (PMI) by determining the age and species of the oldest blow fly larvae feeding on decedent. This study was conducted in Malaysia to identify maggot specimens collected during crime scene investigations. The usefulness of the molecular and morphological approach in species identifications was evaluated in 10 morphologically identifi ed blow fl y larvae sampled from 10 different crime scenes in Malaysia. The molecular identifi cation method involved the sequencing of a total length of 2.2 kilo base pairs encompassing the ‘barcode’ fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI), cytochrome oxidase II (COII) and t-RNA leucine genes. Phylogenetic analyses confi rmed the presence of Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya rufifacies and Chrysomya nigripes. In addition, one unidentified blow fly species was found based on phylogenetic tree analysis.

Signal fly, Scholastes sp. (Diptera: Platystomatidae) was observed associated with animal carcasses in Malaysia. The first observation was on a monkey carcass, which was killed by using a handgun and immediately placed in a forested area in Gombak, Selangor while the second observation was on a pig that died of natural causes and whose carcass was placed in an oil palm plantation in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor. Both animal carcasses were visited by Scholastes sp. flies during the fresh decomposition period. However, the role Scholastes flies in the decomposition process remains unknown. In this paper, we report the occurrence of Scholastes sp. on animal carcasses in Malaysia for the first time.
Diptera ; Animals ; Malaysia ; Patient observation ; First

Objective: To study the occurrence of insects fauna obtained in a semi forested area in Malaysia using the carcass of the monkey Macaca fascicularis, Raffles, and to compared the wave of insect succession collected from the carcass placed outdoor and indoor. Methods:The outdoor and indoor studies were conducted at a location of 3o17’57.86”N, 101o47’00.78”E. The euthanized monkeys were placed indoor and outdor. The insect seccession visited the carcass, the envirenmental temperature and relative humidity were recorded. Results:The main insects attracted to specific stages of decomposition were mainly members of Diptera and Coleoptera. There was a delay of fly arrival by two days in indoor carcass. Nocturnal oviposition behaviour was not observed in this study. The flies left the carcass during the twilight zone as noted during a 3 days observation period in outdoor study. The dipteran species found outdoor and indoor were similar but more diverse coleopteran species was found indoor. Conclusions:Information and evidence from this study can be used to improve the estimation of the post mortem interval in forensic cases.

Ovitrap surveillance was carried out in fifteen localities encompassing foggingfree and dengue risk areas in West Malaysia to determine on the dispersal and prevalence of single and co-breeding of mosquito larvae particularly Aedes. Ovitraps were sited randomly indoors and outdoors within human settlements in all study areas. All the localities exhibited positive ovitraps with single breeding of Ae. albopictus that ranged between 64.29% and 100.00%. These findings indicated Ae. albopictus as the predominant container-breeding species in all study areas. The co-breeding of Ae. aegypti with Ae. albopictus larvae (34 ovitraps), Ae. albopictus with Culex quinquefasciatus larvae (32 ovitraps) as well as Cx. quinquefasciatus with Armigeres subalbatus larvae (1 ovitrap) were also detected in certain study localities. Interestingly, co-breeding of Ae. albopictus with Ar. subalbatus larvae as well as Ae. albopictus with Uranotaenia sp. larvae in Malaysia is reported for the first time in the present study. Better understanding of the co-breeding scenario involving different species of mosquito larvae is needed to ensure the efficacy of vector control actions to be conducted.