o_19ko2dt161ng2j4e1tgnoqv1s45a.pdf

IDRIS A.B. (2007)
There are few Malaysian entomologists working on bees; they are Prof. Dr. Mahadzir Mardan
(Universiti Putra Malaysia), Mr. Hussan Abdul Kadir (Malaysian Agriculture Research and
Development Institute) and Mr. Salim Tingek in the Tenom Agricultural Research Station,
Sabah (TARSS). These entomologists are studying bee behavior, pollination or
thermoregulation. TARSS is quickly becoming a center dedicated to research on bees. Bee
specimens are kept at various academic institutions such as UKM, UM, UPM and UMS and
government agencies such as MARDI and the Department of Agriculture (Crop Protection
Division).
2. Stingless bee group
Like honey bees, the stingless bees also play an important role in pollination (e.g., Trigonia
thoracica, the pollinator for starfruit), Stingless bees however, are not an important source of
honey and they are not kept commercially in hives. Very little is known about these bees.
To date, there are no Malaysian entomologists actively working on this group, nor are there
any international or regional funds to support such research. However, Dr. Khoo Soo Ghee
(retired lecturer of the University of Malaya) had recorded at least 35 species of Trigona from
Malaysia, and this confirms Malaysia’s status as being the country with the highest diversity
of Trigona species in tropical Asia (S.G. Khoo, pers. comm.). Much of the material stemming
from his research (identification keys, checklists, literature and specimens) are currently kept
at the Insect Collection of University of Malaya or in Dr. Khoo’s personal collection.
Identification keys for both honey bees and stingless bees are available at University of Malaya,
TARSS and UPM, as well as from related websites, e.g., Taxacom Listserv Archive for 1996
or http://www.taxapad.com.
C. Parasitic Wasps, with special emphasis on Ichneumoidea (Ichnemonidae
and Braconidae)
The parasitic wasps (Parasitica; refer above) is the largest group of Hymenoptera, the two
largest families, Ichneumonidae and Braconidae, respectively having 35 and 28 subfamilies
worldwide (Goulet & Huber 1993). These two subfamilies have been studied more than the
other families. In nature, these parasitic wasps, also known as parasitoids, regulate herbivore
populations, thereby reducing damage to the leaves, stems, flowers, fruits and roots of plants.
In view of this, Altieri & Nicholls (2004) suggested that these wasps indirectly promote global
floral and faunal diversity. However, highly disturbed habitats such as agricultural ecosystems
do not favor parasitoid survival.
1. Braconidae
The braconids of the Old World Tropics, in particular the Indo-Australian and Oriental species,
have been studied primarily by Drs. C. van Achterberg (Leiden Museum), D.L.J. Quicke
(Imperial College, London) and A.B. Idris (UKM, Malaysia). At least three recent revisions
have been published (Quicke 1997, Simboloti & van Achterberg 1990a, 1990b). In addition,
one illustrated book to the subfamilies was published in 1996 (van Achterberg 1996), and
another publication, “Keys to the Genera of Braconidae of the World,” is in press (van
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