Ecology, Distribution And Behaviour Of Rove Beetle, Paederus Fuscipes Curtis (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) In Relation To Human Settings

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Date
2018-01
Authors
Sufian, Maryam
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Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Paederus fuscipes Curtis has garnered tremendous interest in recent years because it causes nasty skin lesion in humans in tropical countries. This study focuses on the biological and behavioural aspects, the interactions with human residential premises and the isolation of bacteria associated with P. fuscipes. In the study of predator-prey interaction, P. fuscipes showed a Type II functional response for all prey species. At the high prey density they consumed predominantly more on Recilia dorsalis Motschulsky. Among the prey species, R. dorsalis and Nilaparvata lugens Stål were commonly preferred by P. fuscipes as compared to Nephotettix virescens Distant due to their small and soft body characteristics. This revealed that P. fuscipes is an efficient predator of smaller prey, and is particularly useful in regulating insect pest during rice nursery stage. Even though being beneficial in the agro-ecosystem, P. fuscipes is gaining notoriety as urban pests in human-populated areas. The present study showed that P. fuscipes population increased in the warmer and humid months especially during the off rice season. This inadvertently caused greatest number of beetle infestation in human residential premises, especially during rice harvesting stage. Paederus fuscipes flight activity peaked from 2045 h onwards, with threshold temperatures between 25–27°C, and relative humidity of 84–94% RH. Most flight activity occurred under windless nights, however P. fuscipes is able to fly under slightly windy conditions. The current study showed that bright illuminance produced from housing premises served as attractant factor of P. fuscipes dispersion. Besides, residents that live at the upper floor levels of high-rise apartment are more prone for beetle infestation especially during rice growing and harvesting stage.
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Paederus fuscipes Curtis has garnered tremendous interest , causes nasty skin lesion in humans
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