o_19ko2dt161ng2j4e1tgnoqv1s45a.pdf

SHAWN CHENG & LAURENCE G. KIRTON (2007)
great void of information on Coleoptera in Malaysia. Although some groups have been relatively
well-studied (e.g., Chrysomelidae), on the whole there is very little documentation of the
taxonomy of most groups of beetles. Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) is another vastly
diverse group, but it has been relatively well-studied in Peninsular Malaysia. Moths are much
more diverse than butterflies, and although there are several good monographs on them, much
more work is needed to document their diversity in Peninsular Malaysia as well as in Sabah
and Sarawak. The Isoptera (termites) and Phasmida (stick insects) are two other relatively
well-studied groups in Peninsular Malaysia, although many unresolved taxonomic problems
are recognised to exist the Isoptera (Tho 1992).
Table 2. Comparison of relative species diversity and the level of taxonomic information
available for some insect orders occurring in Peninsular Malaysia.
Order Relative size * Availability of Monographs available
taxonomic information
1. Coleoptera * * * * * * * * * * Very low -
2. Lepidoptera * * * * * * * * High Butterflies: Fleming (1983),
Corbet & Pendlebury (1992);
Moths: Holloway (1976) † ,
Barlow (1982)
3. Hymenoptera * * * * * * Very low -
4. Diptera * * * * * Very low -
5. Hemiptera * * * * Very low -
6. Homoptera * * * Very low -
7. Orthoptera * * * Very low -
8. Collembola * * Very low -
9. Isoptera * * Moderate Tho (1992)
10. Phasmida * High Brock (1999), Seow-Choen
(2000)
11. Thysanura * Very low -
*
Relative size of the order is based on figures given in Romoser & Stoffolano (1998).
†
In addition, there is a further series of publications on the moths of Borneo by Holloway (1983, 1985,
1986, 1987, 1988, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001). Many parts of this series are also available on
the World Wide Web (http://www.mothsofborneo.com). Although based on specimens from Borneo,
Holloway’s work is a useful reference for Peninsular Malaysia as well.
Orders that have been relatively well studied are, to some extent, those that have attractive
species (e.g., butterflies, moths and stick insects) or that have some importance in agriculture
and forestry (e.g., termites). It is also worth noting that a number of monographs were authored
by individuals who were not entomologists by profession, but who pursued the study of insects
privately (e.g., the monographs on butterflies and stick insects).
In spite of its large number of species, many of which are beneficial insects, taxonomic
information on the Hymenoptera (bees, wasps and ants) in Peninsular Malaysia is still very
lacking. Other relatively large groups that have been little studied are the Diptera, Hemiptera,
Homoptera, and Orthoptera. Many groups of insects for which taxonomic information is still
lacking are important in ecosystem functions such as pollination, predation, phytophagy and
the promotion of soil stability.
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