2013 Assessment on the Diversity of Para
2013 IEEE Symposium on Humanities, Science and Engineering Research (SHUSER)
Assessment on the Diversity of Parasitoids of
Bagworms (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) in
FELDA Gunung Besout 6, Sungkai, Perak
*Mohd Hanysyam, M.N., *Fauziah, I., **Siti Khairiyah, M.H., *Fairuz, K., *Mohd Rasdi, Z.,
**Nurul Zfarina, M.Z., *Ismail R. and *Norazliza, R.
*Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor
**Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor
E-mail (corresponding authors): matlabu5741@yahoo.com; sitikhairiyah@salam.uitm.edu.my; fairuzdk@salam.uitm.edu.my
Bagworm, particularly Metisa plana Walker, is one of the
important leaf-eating pests of oil palm in Malaysia and
Indonesia. This species of bagworm is capable of being
present as outbreak and a damage of 50% would cause high
yield losses up to 40-47% or 10 t/ha over two years after a
serious infestation [4] - [9]. Crop losses due to the extent of
defoliation by a serious bagworm attack, are still inevitable
and a moderate defoliation of about 10%-30% may cause a
crop loss of about 33%-40% in two years time [8],[10].
Abstract--- Species abundance, diversity, richness, evenness and
similarities of parasitoids of bagworms were evaluated at three
different localities in an oil palm plantation at FELDA Gunung
Besout 6 in Sungkai, Perak. All the three study areas were
situated approximately 500m between each other and included
the margin and interior part of the oil palm area, and also
around the beneficial plants area, which particularly Antigonon
leptopus. The abundance, diversity and similarity of insects were
varied at all three study sites, which demonstrated the effect of
level of disturbances, vegetation diversity and food sources
availability. Samplings were conducted for six months starting
from August 2011 until January 2012 using Malaise traps. A total
of 59 parasitoids, belonging to two orders and seven families were
collected from the trap around margin area, whereas a total of 67
insects belonging to two orders and seven families were collected
from the trap around the interior area and a total of 68 insects
belonging to two orders and six families were collected from the
trap around the beneficial plants area. The beneficial plant site
has the highest Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index, followed by the
interior and the margin site. However, there were no significant
differences between the three habitats (p>0.05) through ANOVA
analysis. Results of this study showed that even though the level
of diversity of parasitoids in the oil palm area of FELDA Gunung
Besout 6 was relatively low, there are still some extensive
measurement could be carried out for their augmentation and
conservation. Factors like food resources, disturbances and
anthropogenic effect are still play the main role in conserving the
biodiversity and ecosystem in certain area. Hence, the
designation of oil palm landscape should be functioned in
healthier and more sustainable way in order to provide a wide
range of ecosystem services and the conservation of biodiversity.
Parasitoids are an important group of natural enemies that
survive on nectar of beneficial plants as source of food [9],
while their life cycles are dependent on their preferred hosts
[11]. Bagworm-parasitoid interactions are highly influenced
by presence of beneficial plants surrounding the plantation
areas [9] and the availability of bagworms as host [12].
In oil palm area of FELDA Gunung Besout 6, chemical
insecticides spraying such as trichlorfon, diflubenzuron,
cypermethrin or monocrotophos and methamidophos
injections have been utilized for bagworms control. Such
controls using these chemicals are effective for the beginning
of the pest generation as the larvae at the early stage are more
susceptible than the next stage [13]. However, the usage of
these wide spectrum insecticides are usually would create a
long term residue. The residue not only being recognized as
the main factor of the recurrent bagworms attack but also is
able to extinguish the non-target insect species, especially the
natural enemies.
The presence of natural enemies in the study area, such as
parasitoids, is doubtful since there were poorly propagated of
the beneficial plants. The only species that available was
Antigonon leptopus and it was just a few patches around the
area. This study was intended to gather information on the
availability of parasitoid species that associated with
bagworms at three different localities in the oil palm area.
Keywords-component: diversity, abundance, parasitoids, bagworms,
oil palm, FELDA Gunung Besout 6
I.
INTRODUCTION
The Malaysian palm oil industry continues to dominate the
global supply of the world’s palm oil [1]. Today, the palm oil
sector account for nearly seven per cent of Malaysia’s Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) and provides more than 1.4 million
jobs. Not surprisingly, in 2011, the total oil palm planted area
in the whole country has reached 5.0 million hectares, a
massive increase of 3.0% against 4.85 million hectares
recorded the previous year [2]. It also covered approximately
73% of the total agricultural land and made the oil palm a very
promising raw material for renewable energy generation [3].
978-1-4799-0443-3/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE
II.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A. Study site
This research was conducted from August 2011 until
January 2012, at FELDA Gunung Besout 6, an oil palm
plantation in Perak (located 68 km from Sungkai), where the
bagworm infestation had occurred for several times and was
allowed to persist without any chemical intervention. This
plantation has a total area of 652.19 ha. The study site was
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2013 IEEE Symposium on Humanities, Science and Engineering Research (SHUSER)
two orders. There were Hymneoptera and Diptera, which
represented by only one family, Tachinidae. The species
composition and number of individual parasitoid species
collected from the different study sites is shown in Table 1.
constituted almost 80 oil palm trees. The trees were planted in
1989 and have been yielded at least four times since then.
B. Sampling methods
The study was carried out at three localities, at about 500
m distance from each other. Each locality represented three
types of habitat, where insect sampling was conducted: the oil
palm margin area; the oil palms interior at a distance of about
250 m from the margin; and the beneficial plants patches
(particularly Antigonon leptopus).
A total of 59 insects belonging to 13 species of
Hymenopterans parasitoids and one family of Dipterans
parasitoids were collected from margin area in the oil palm
plantation. The most abundant family is observed at this site
was Tachinidae (20 individuals or 33.9% of the parasitoids
collected). Eulophidae constituted 32.2% of the total
parasitoids observed at the margin site and was represented by
five species. Pediobius anomalus and Tetrastichus sp. were
the most abundant species of Eulophidae, followed by
Pediobius imbrues, Pediobius elasmi and Sympiesis sp. In
addition, 16.95% of the total parasitoids collected belonged to
Braconidae, with only Dolichogenidea metesae were found.
Ichneumonidae constituted 11.86% from the total of
parasitoids recorded and represented by three species,
Paraphylax varius, Goryphus bunoh and Spinaria spinator.
Only one individual or 1.7% of the total parasitoids were
collected from three other Hymenopteran families. There were
Ceraphonidae (represented by Aphanogmus thylax),
Eupelmidae (represented by Euplemus catoxanthae) and
Eurytomidae (represented by Eurytoma sp.).
Insect sampling was carried out using Malaise traps at
every locality in the study area [14]. At all localities, Malaise
trapping was carried out once a month. The collecting jars
were filled with 70% alcohol and kept open for at least seven
to ten days, then cleared from the collected individuals.
Sampling was carried out over a total period of six months,
yielding total of 18 samples altogether.
From each of the samples, all the insects were pooled
together in yellow pan and initially sorted according to their
physical attributes based on major order. There were seven
orders altogether and being stored in vials separately based on
their original location of trap. Each specimen were then,
pinned, and, once dried, these will be kept indefinitely.
Specimens that were too small to pin were mounted on points,
on tiny minuten pins. Large and showy insects were mounted
in various types of glass-topped display boxes.
A total of 67 insects belonging to 11 species of
Hymenopterans parasitoids and one family of Dipterans
parasitoids were collected from the interior area of oil palm.
Eulophidae was the most abundant family collected with 33
individuals, constituted almost 50% of the total parasitoids,
with Tetrastichus sp. were being the most abundant species
among all parasitoids found (25.37% of total parasitoids),
followed by Pediobius imbrues, Pediobius anomalus,
Pediobius elasmi and Sympiesis sp. Dipteran family,
Tachinidae recorded at least 16% of total parasitoids, followed
by Braconidae with 14.93% (represented by Dolichogenidea
metesae), Ichneumonidae, 13.43% (represented by two
species, Goryphus bunoh and Paraphylax varius) and
Ceraphonidea (Aphanogmus thylax) with almost 3%.
Euplemidae (Euplemus catoxanthae) and Eurytomidae
(Eurytoma sp.) have only one individual found, which
constituted 1.5% of the total parasitoids collected.
Pinning is the best way to preserve hard-bodied insects
[15]. The specimens were pinned with a special type of steel
pin, well known as insect pin. Insect pin sizes range from 00
to 7, but number 2 and 3 are best for general use. Pinning
block were used to obtain uniformity. For moths and
butterflies, spreading board was used to spread their wings for
easy studied. Insects too small to pin were mounted on a card
or point. Points are elongated, triangular pieces of light
cardboard or heavy paper, about 8 or 10mm long and 3 or
4mm wide at the base.
Identification of all species of insects was implemented
with the help of Entomologist and Science Officers from
Strategic Resources Research Centre, MARDI, the Centre of
Insect Systematic, Faculty of Science and Technology, UKM
Bangi, and also from Department of Biology, Faculty of
Applied Sciences, UiTM Shah Alam.
A total of 68 insects belonging to 13 species of
Hymenopterans parasitoids and Dipterans parasitoids were
collected from the beneficial plant area in the oil palm
plantation. Eulophidae was the dominant family collected
(five species, 38 individuals), constituted 55.88% of the total
individuals collected. Tetrastichus sp. (Eulophidae) still was
the most abundant species found which constituted 23.53% of
the total parasitoids found, followed by Pediobius imbrues,
Pediobius elasmi, Pediobius anomalus and Sympiesis sp.
Tachinidae recorded at least almost 18% of total parasitoids,
followed by Ichneumonidae, with 13.24% (represented by four
species, Paraphylax varius, Spinaria spinator, Goryphus
bunoh and Busymania oxymora), Braconidae, with 8.82%
(represented by two species, Dolichogenidea metesae and
Apanteles aluella), Eurytomidae, constituted 2.94% (one
species recorded, Eurytoma sp.) and Ceraphonidae, with only
one individual recorded, Aphanogmus thylax.
C. Data analysis
A biological community usually has a large number of
species with relatively small abundances [16]. When a random
sample of individuals is selected and each individual is
classified according to species identity, some rare species may
not be discovered. This study insect diversity was considered
based on the number of species within the sites. The diversity
was calculated using the Shannon-Wiener Index [17].
To determine the percent on the insect species similarity,
the Jaccard’s Coefficient Index were being used for comparing
the similarity and diversity of the insect sample sets [18]. All
of the data obtained were encoded and processed by
employing Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and the statistical
analyses were performed using the Paleontological Statistics
(PAST) software programme [14].
D.
Throughout the recent study, a total of 194 individuals of
parasitoids under two orders of Hymenoptera and Diptera
were collected. Figure 1 showed the percentage of individual
of parasitoids collected from all three study site in the oil palm
area.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A. Abundance of all insects in three different habitats
A total 194 individuals of parasitoids that mainly
associated with bagworms collected were belonging to only
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2013 IEEE Symposium on Humanities, Science and Engineering Research (SHUSER)
interior and the beneficial plant area, consists of more than
20% of total parasitoids. This species of parasitoid can be
found on bagworm, Metisa plana as a primary parasitoid and
as a hyperparasitoid on Mahasena corbetti [19]. Most
Tetratichus sp. is gregarious larval-pupal endoparasitoid and
koinobiont [20] – [23], which it allows the host to continue its
development while feeding upon it.
Eupelmidae recorded the highest percentage with 47.42%
(92 individuals), followed by Dipteran family, Tachinidae
with 22.17% (43 individuals), Braconidae (13.4%, 26
individuals), Ichneumonidae (11.86%, 23 individuals),
Cerophonidae and Eurytomidae (both constituted 2.06%, four
individuals), and Eupelmidae with only 1.03% (two
individuals).
Tetratichus sp. from family Eulophidae recorded the
highest number in individuals collected in two sites, the
TABLE I. NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS OF PARASITOIDS COLLECTED FROM T HREE DIFFERENT SITES IN T HE OIL PALM AREA
Species
Aphanogmus thylax
Eupelmus catoxanthae
Eurytoma sp.
Pediobius anomalus
Pediobius elasmi
Pediobius imbrues
Sympiesis sp.
Tetrastichus sp.
Dolichogenidea metesae
Apanteles aluella
Goryphus bunoh
Paraphylax varius
Busymania oxymora
Spinaria spinator
Family
Ceraphonidae
Eupelmidae
Eurytomidae
Eulophidae
Eulophidae
Eulophidae
Eulophidae
Eulophidae
Braconidae
Braconidae
Ichneumonidae
Ichneumonidae
Ichneumonidae
Ichneumonidae
Tachinidae
Order
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Diptera
1
1
1
6
2
3
2
6
10
2
4
1
20
Margin
2
1
1
4
3
6
3
17
10
5
4
11
Interior
1
2
4
6
9
3
16
5
1
2
3
1
3
12
Beneficial plant
Total
4
2
4
14
11
20
8
39
25
1
7
11
1
4
43
Total individuals
59
67
68
194
Total families
7
7
6
As for Ichneumonidae, there were four species recorded,
namely Paraphylax varius with 5.67% of total parasitoids,
Goryphus bunoh (3.61%), Spinaria spinator (2.06%) and
Busymania oxymora (0.52%). Paraphylax varius was found as
a hyperparasitoid for Dolichogenidea metesae on Metisa plana
and some species of nettle caterpillars (Norman et al., 1998).
Goryphus bunoh was found as a primary parasitoid for both
Metisa plana and Mahasena corbetti but can be a
hyperparasitoid for nettle caterpillar species, Setora nitens
(Lepidoptera: Cochlidiidae). Another two species of bagworm
moths that related to Goryphus bunoh as its host are Amatissa
sp. and Dappula sp. (Lepidoptera: Psychidae). Spinaria
spinator was only found on nettle caterpillar, Setora nitens, as
a primary parasitoid.
There were other four parasitoid species belonging to
Eulophidae family, namely Pediobius imbrues, which
constituted 10.31% of total parasitoids, Pediobius anomalus
(7.23%), Pediobius elasmi (5.67%) and Sympiesis (4.12%).
Pediobius imbrues is mainly found as a primary and
hyperparasitoid for bagworm, Metisa plana [19]. This species
has broad range of 18 other hosts and acted as an obligate and
facultative hyperparasitoids for other Hymenopteran
parasitoids [4]. It is also recorded as the most dominant
parasitoids found with parasitized bagworms [12]. Due to this
fact, it showed that its effectiveness as primary parasitoid was
not affected by its hyperparasitic behaviour.
Pediobius anomalus is basically behaving as both primary
and hyperparasitoid for two major bagworms, Metisa plana
and Pteroma pendula [19]. Pediobius elasmi can be found on
other bagworm species, Mahasena corbetti, as primary and
hyperparasitoid. As for Sympiesis sp., it can be found on
Metisa plana and Mahasena corbetti as a primary parasitoid.
Pediobius elasmi and Pediobius imbrues also can be found as
hyperparasitoid for two other moth pests, namely Artona
catoxantha (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae) and Parasa lepida
(Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) [19].
Family Braconidae was represented by only two species,
namely Dolichogenidea metesae and Apanteles aluella.
Dolichogenidea metesae was far more abundant in number of
individuals than Apanteles aluella in all three sites, consists of
12.89% of total parasitoids collected. Dolichogenidea metesae
can be found as primary parasitoid for bagworm. However, its
parasitizing activities can be interrupted by Pediobius
imbrues, which acted as hyperparasitoid [12]. Apanteles
alluella, which only one individual found in the beneficial
plant area, was recorded as primary parasitoid for Darna trima
(Lepidoptera: Limacodidae), another moth pest species [19].
Figure 1. The percentage of total parasitoids collected from all three
localities in the oil palm area
Of all the parasitoid species collected from the three
localities, there were three families owned only one parasitoid
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2013 IEEE Symposium on Humanities, Science and Engineering Research (SHUSER)
significant role in supporting the sustenance of parasitoids in
the oil palm area [9]. This study proved that the practices of
establishing the beneficial plants in the oil palm area by the
management were able to utilize the parasitoids as the natural
enemies of bagworm pests. However, the H’ value is still
considered low. It suggested that the establishing the
beneficial plants in the study area need to be implemented
extensively.
species recorded. Those families were Ceraphonidae,
Eurytomidae and Eupelmidae. Aphanogmus thylax from
Cerphonidae consist of 2.06 % or four individuals collected
from all three sites. This species can be found on Metisa plana
and Mahasena corbetti as a hyperparasitoid [19]. Eurytoma
sp. from Eurytomidae also recorded four individuals
altogether and can be found on Metisa plana, Mahasena
corbetti and other lepidopterans as a hyperparasitoid as well.
However, most species of the large and widespread parasitoid
genus Eurytoma prefer to attack gall wasps Cynipidae
(Hymenoptera) and two other Diptera families, namely
Tephritidae (fruite flies) and Cecidomyidae (gall midges or
gnats) [24]. As for Eupelmus catoxanthae, only two
individuals collected from both matgin and interior sites. This
species can be found on Metisa plana and Mahasena corbetti
as primary and hyperparasitoid. Other hosts are including
moth pest species Artona catoxantha and Parasa lepida.
At the interior site, the H’ value (2.183) was also
influenced by the E’ value (0.74) and the R’ value (2.616),
where the diversity of the parasitoids was a little bit less
diverse compared to the beneficial plant area. All area in the
interior site was covered with oil palm trees and most palms
were uniform in age and size. Hence, this area may not be able
to contribute on the sustenance of the parasitoids due to the
lack of beneficial plants as food sources. However, it may
serve as a support for biological interaction with bagworm
pests as hosts for their reproduction and larval development.
Tachinidae, the only dipterans parasitoid family recorded
comprises 22.17%, making them second most number
collected in all three sites, after Hymenopterans family,
Eulophidae.
Tachinidae is included more than 8,500
described species worldwide and all of them are parasitoids of
insects or ohter arthropods, and rank second only to the
parasitic Hymenoptera in diversity and ecological importance
as insect parasitoids [25]. Therefore, this group has been
recognized to be very valuable to humans, because the larval
stages are parasites of other insects and many species aid in
keeping pest species in balance [15]. Tachnids attack many
different groups on insects and although most of them are
restricted to certain hosts, a few can develop in a wide variety
of hosts. All tachinid species recorded that associated with
bagworms can be found on Mahasena corbetti and acted as a
primary parasitoid [19].
As for the margin site, the H’ value (2.087) was the lowest
among all three study sites. Nevertheless, the diversity index,
H’ value, were still influenced by both E’ (0.62) and R’
(2.943) values. Margin sites were situated at the edge of the oil
palm plantation area. This area was adjacent with the main
road, management building, factories, stores, houses and
others. Hence, it received the most disturbances and
anthropogenic effects directly as compared to other two sites.
The lack of beneficial plants and oil palm trees also
contributed the low level of diversity and species richness in
the area.
In general, all of these sites in the oil palm plantation were
dealing directly with a lot of factors like the high temperature,
low humidity and direct disturbances affect, which lead to the
loss of diversity of fauna in the oil palm plantation [26]. These
factors were observed and detected in every part of the oil
palm studied area. In this case, homogeneous environment,
where type of vegetation, rainfall counts, level of humidity
and temperature, and soil structure are almost identical in the
whole area, is expected to exist. Homogenisation of
landscapes due to agricultural intensification is widely
recognised as the principal cause of declining farmland
wildlife populations [27].
B. Diversity of all insects in the three different localities
The richness of parasitoid species and the abundance in
three localities based on diversity and evenness are presented
in Table 2. The H’, E’ and R’ values were varied between
three different localities in the oil palm area, even though their
values are relatively low due to small number of population.
The highest parasitoid diversity was found in the beneficial
plant area, which has a Shannon-Wiener index diversity of
2.294. The next highest level of diversity was found in the
moderately disturbed habitat, the interior site, which had a
diversity index of 2.183. Finally, the lowest amount of
diversity was observed in the margin site, which had a high
level of disturbance and a diversity of 2.087. Evenness also
tracked habitat and disturbance, but with the greatest value
being associated with the interior site, followed by the
beneficial plant site and the margin site.
Shannon-Wiener diversity index was then analyzed by
using one-way ANOVA in order to compare the significant
differences between the three localities. The result showed that
there were no significant differences between the three
habitats with p>0.05. Therefore, there were no significant
values in terms of species distribution in all three sites.
C. Similarity of all parasitoids in three different localities in
the oil palm area
Percent of parasitoid species similarities (Jaccard’s
Coefficient Index) among the three localities which is shown
in Table 3 and Figure 2 were relatively high (more than 70%).
The similarity value was 80% (Jaccard’s Coefficient Index =
0.8), 92.3% and 73% between beneficial plant and margin,
interior and margin, and beneficial plant area and interior
respectively.
TABLE II.
SHANNON-WIENER DIVERSITY INDEX (H’),
EVENNESS INDEX (E’) AND MARGALEF RICHNESS I NDEX (R’) FOR ALL
PARASITOIDS COLLECTED AT THE T HREE LOCALITIES IN THE OIL PALM
AREA
Taxa. S’
Individuals
Shannon, H’
Evenness,
E’
Margalef,
R’
Margin
13
59
2.087
0.620
2.943
Interior
12
67
2.183
0.740
2.616
B/plant
14
68
2.294
0.708
3.081
The higher value of H’ at the beneficial plant site is
influenced by the value of (E’ = 0.708) and value of (R’ =
3.081). The high value of diversity in the study site is expected
due to the consisted of plant species that play a very
TABLE III.
THE J ACCARD’S COEFFICIENT INDEX (SIMILARITY
INDEX) FOR ALL PARASITOIDS IN THREE DIFFERENT
LOCALITIES IN THE OIL PALM AREA
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2013 IEEE Symposium on Humanities, Science and Engineering Research (SHUSER)
Margin
Interior
REFERENCES
B/plant
Margin
1
0.92308
0.8
Interior
0.92308
1
0.73333
B/plant
0.8
0.73333
1
[1]
[2]
The low percent similarity between the interior and
beneficial plant area (73%) or high similarity between the
interior and margin area (92.3%) suggested that there were
distances between the three different localities in the oil palm
area which influenced by the number of shared parasitoid
species.
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
Figure 2. Dendrogram from a cluster analysis based on presence and absence
of each family of non-parasitoids recorded at different localities in the oil
palm area, utilizing Jaccard’s Coefficient Index (= similarity index) and the
unweighted-pair groups method (UPGMA).
[11]
[12]
The interior part of the oil palm plantation area may
represent more similar in terms of habitat characteristics and
environment with the margin area. The most obvious and
important factor is both areas provided less food source for the
available parasitoid species in the plantation area.
[13]
E.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the level of diversity and abundance of parasitoids
in the oil palm area of FELDA Gunung Besout 6 is considered
low. The impact of oil palm expansion is still severe towards
their biodiversity. Taken from the results, the factors like food
resources, disturbances and anthropogenic effect are still play
the main role in conserving the biodiversity and ecosystem in
certain area. Hence, the designation of oil palm landscape
should be functioned in healthier and more sustainable way in
order to provide a wide range of ecosystem services and the
conservation of biodiversity.
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
[18]
Special appreciation to Mr. Norkhaidi Harun, former
manager of FELDA Gunung Besout 6 and Mr. Azrulizam Ab.
Hamid, assistant manager, for the permission and supports
during the field work. Special thanks also to Mr. Jayprakash
Pertabai from MARDI and Mr. Roslan Abd. Aziz from UKM,
for their assistances in identified the insect species. Thanks to
all academic and admin staffs at FPA and FSG for their
supports and cooperation. This project was totally funded by
Excellence Funds, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 600RMI/ST/DANA 5/3/Dst (476/2011).
[19]
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135
Assessment on the Diversity of Parasitoids of
Bagworms (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) in
FELDA Gunung Besout 6, Sungkai, Perak
*Mohd Hanysyam, M.N., *Fauziah, I., **Siti Khairiyah, M.H., *Fairuz, K., *Mohd Rasdi, Z.,
**Nurul Zfarina, M.Z., *Ismail R. and *Norazliza, R.
*Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor
**Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor
E-mail (corresponding authors): matlabu5741@yahoo.com; sitikhairiyah@salam.uitm.edu.my; fairuzdk@salam.uitm.edu.my
Bagworm, particularly Metisa plana Walker, is one of the
important leaf-eating pests of oil palm in Malaysia and
Indonesia. This species of bagworm is capable of being
present as outbreak and a damage of 50% would cause high
yield losses up to 40-47% or 10 t/ha over two years after a
serious infestation [4] - [9]. Crop losses due to the extent of
defoliation by a serious bagworm attack, are still inevitable
and a moderate defoliation of about 10%-30% may cause a
crop loss of about 33%-40% in two years time [8],[10].
Abstract--- Species abundance, diversity, richness, evenness and
similarities of parasitoids of bagworms were evaluated at three
different localities in an oil palm plantation at FELDA Gunung
Besout 6 in Sungkai, Perak. All the three study areas were
situated approximately 500m between each other and included
the margin and interior part of the oil palm area, and also
around the beneficial plants area, which particularly Antigonon
leptopus. The abundance, diversity and similarity of insects were
varied at all three study sites, which demonstrated the effect of
level of disturbances, vegetation diversity and food sources
availability. Samplings were conducted for six months starting
from August 2011 until January 2012 using Malaise traps. A total
of 59 parasitoids, belonging to two orders and seven families were
collected from the trap around margin area, whereas a total of 67
insects belonging to two orders and seven families were collected
from the trap around the interior area and a total of 68 insects
belonging to two orders and six families were collected from the
trap around the beneficial plants area. The beneficial plant site
has the highest Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index, followed by the
interior and the margin site. However, there were no significant
differences between the three habitats (p>0.05) through ANOVA
analysis. Results of this study showed that even though the level
of diversity of parasitoids in the oil palm area of FELDA Gunung
Besout 6 was relatively low, there are still some extensive
measurement could be carried out for their augmentation and
conservation. Factors like food resources, disturbances and
anthropogenic effect are still play the main role in conserving the
biodiversity and ecosystem in certain area. Hence, the
designation of oil palm landscape should be functioned in
healthier and more sustainable way in order to provide a wide
range of ecosystem services and the conservation of biodiversity.
Parasitoids are an important group of natural enemies that
survive on nectar of beneficial plants as source of food [9],
while their life cycles are dependent on their preferred hosts
[11]. Bagworm-parasitoid interactions are highly influenced
by presence of beneficial plants surrounding the plantation
areas [9] and the availability of bagworms as host [12].
In oil palm area of FELDA Gunung Besout 6, chemical
insecticides spraying such as trichlorfon, diflubenzuron,
cypermethrin or monocrotophos and methamidophos
injections have been utilized for bagworms control. Such
controls using these chemicals are effective for the beginning
of the pest generation as the larvae at the early stage are more
susceptible than the next stage [13]. However, the usage of
these wide spectrum insecticides are usually would create a
long term residue. The residue not only being recognized as
the main factor of the recurrent bagworms attack but also is
able to extinguish the non-target insect species, especially the
natural enemies.
The presence of natural enemies in the study area, such as
parasitoids, is doubtful since there were poorly propagated of
the beneficial plants. The only species that available was
Antigonon leptopus and it was just a few patches around the
area. This study was intended to gather information on the
availability of parasitoid species that associated with
bagworms at three different localities in the oil palm area.
Keywords-component: diversity, abundance, parasitoids, bagworms,
oil palm, FELDA Gunung Besout 6
I.
INTRODUCTION
The Malaysian palm oil industry continues to dominate the
global supply of the world’s palm oil [1]. Today, the palm oil
sector account for nearly seven per cent of Malaysia’s Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) and provides more than 1.4 million
jobs. Not surprisingly, in 2011, the total oil palm planted area
in the whole country has reached 5.0 million hectares, a
massive increase of 3.0% against 4.85 million hectares
recorded the previous year [2]. It also covered approximately
73% of the total agricultural land and made the oil palm a very
promising raw material for renewable energy generation [3].
978-1-4799-0443-3/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE
II.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A. Study site
This research was conducted from August 2011 until
January 2012, at FELDA Gunung Besout 6, an oil palm
plantation in Perak (located 68 km from Sungkai), where the
bagworm infestation had occurred for several times and was
allowed to persist without any chemical intervention. This
plantation has a total area of 652.19 ha. The study site was
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2013 IEEE Symposium on Humanities, Science and Engineering Research (SHUSER)
two orders. There were Hymneoptera and Diptera, which
represented by only one family, Tachinidae. The species
composition and number of individual parasitoid species
collected from the different study sites is shown in Table 1.
constituted almost 80 oil palm trees. The trees were planted in
1989 and have been yielded at least four times since then.
B. Sampling methods
The study was carried out at three localities, at about 500
m distance from each other. Each locality represented three
types of habitat, where insect sampling was conducted: the oil
palm margin area; the oil palms interior at a distance of about
250 m from the margin; and the beneficial plants patches
(particularly Antigonon leptopus).
A total of 59 insects belonging to 13 species of
Hymenopterans parasitoids and one family of Dipterans
parasitoids were collected from margin area in the oil palm
plantation. The most abundant family is observed at this site
was Tachinidae (20 individuals or 33.9% of the parasitoids
collected). Eulophidae constituted 32.2% of the total
parasitoids observed at the margin site and was represented by
five species. Pediobius anomalus and Tetrastichus sp. were
the most abundant species of Eulophidae, followed by
Pediobius imbrues, Pediobius elasmi and Sympiesis sp. In
addition, 16.95% of the total parasitoids collected belonged to
Braconidae, with only Dolichogenidea metesae were found.
Ichneumonidae constituted 11.86% from the total of
parasitoids recorded and represented by three species,
Paraphylax varius, Goryphus bunoh and Spinaria spinator.
Only one individual or 1.7% of the total parasitoids were
collected from three other Hymenopteran families. There were
Ceraphonidae (represented by Aphanogmus thylax),
Eupelmidae (represented by Euplemus catoxanthae) and
Eurytomidae (represented by Eurytoma sp.).
Insect sampling was carried out using Malaise traps at
every locality in the study area [14]. At all localities, Malaise
trapping was carried out once a month. The collecting jars
were filled with 70% alcohol and kept open for at least seven
to ten days, then cleared from the collected individuals.
Sampling was carried out over a total period of six months,
yielding total of 18 samples altogether.
From each of the samples, all the insects were pooled
together in yellow pan and initially sorted according to their
physical attributes based on major order. There were seven
orders altogether and being stored in vials separately based on
their original location of trap. Each specimen were then,
pinned, and, once dried, these will be kept indefinitely.
Specimens that were too small to pin were mounted on points,
on tiny minuten pins. Large and showy insects were mounted
in various types of glass-topped display boxes.
A total of 67 insects belonging to 11 species of
Hymenopterans parasitoids and one family of Dipterans
parasitoids were collected from the interior area of oil palm.
Eulophidae was the most abundant family collected with 33
individuals, constituted almost 50% of the total parasitoids,
with Tetrastichus sp. were being the most abundant species
among all parasitoids found (25.37% of total parasitoids),
followed by Pediobius imbrues, Pediobius anomalus,
Pediobius elasmi and Sympiesis sp. Dipteran family,
Tachinidae recorded at least 16% of total parasitoids, followed
by Braconidae with 14.93% (represented by Dolichogenidea
metesae), Ichneumonidae, 13.43% (represented by two
species, Goryphus bunoh and Paraphylax varius) and
Ceraphonidea (Aphanogmus thylax) with almost 3%.
Euplemidae (Euplemus catoxanthae) and Eurytomidae
(Eurytoma sp.) have only one individual found, which
constituted 1.5% of the total parasitoids collected.
Pinning is the best way to preserve hard-bodied insects
[15]. The specimens were pinned with a special type of steel
pin, well known as insect pin. Insect pin sizes range from 00
to 7, but number 2 and 3 are best for general use. Pinning
block were used to obtain uniformity. For moths and
butterflies, spreading board was used to spread their wings for
easy studied. Insects too small to pin were mounted on a card
or point. Points are elongated, triangular pieces of light
cardboard or heavy paper, about 8 or 10mm long and 3 or
4mm wide at the base.
Identification of all species of insects was implemented
with the help of Entomologist and Science Officers from
Strategic Resources Research Centre, MARDI, the Centre of
Insect Systematic, Faculty of Science and Technology, UKM
Bangi, and also from Department of Biology, Faculty of
Applied Sciences, UiTM Shah Alam.
A total of 68 insects belonging to 13 species of
Hymenopterans parasitoids and Dipterans parasitoids were
collected from the beneficial plant area in the oil palm
plantation. Eulophidae was the dominant family collected
(five species, 38 individuals), constituted 55.88% of the total
individuals collected. Tetrastichus sp. (Eulophidae) still was
the most abundant species found which constituted 23.53% of
the total parasitoids found, followed by Pediobius imbrues,
Pediobius elasmi, Pediobius anomalus and Sympiesis sp.
Tachinidae recorded at least almost 18% of total parasitoids,
followed by Ichneumonidae, with 13.24% (represented by four
species, Paraphylax varius, Spinaria spinator, Goryphus
bunoh and Busymania oxymora), Braconidae, with 8.82%
(represented by two species, Dolichogenidea metesae and
Apanteles aluella), Eurytomidae, constituted 2.94% (one
species recorded, Eurytoma sp.) and Ceraphonidae, with only
one individual recorded, Aphanogmus thylax.
C. Data analysis
A biological community usually has a large number of
species with relatively small abundances [16]. When a random
sample of individuals is selected and each individual is
classified according to species identity, some rare species may
not be discovered. This study insect diversity was considered
based on the number of species within the sites. The diversity
was calculated using the Shannon-Wiener Index [17].
To determine the percent on the insect species similarity,
the Jaccard’s Coefficient Index were being used for comparing
the similarity and diversity of the insect sample sets [18]. All
of the data obtained were encoded and processed by
employing Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and the statistical
analyses were performed using the Paleontological Statistics
(PAST) software programme [14].
D.
Throughout the recent study, a total of 194 individuals of
parasitoids under two orders of Hymenoptera and Diptera
were collected. Figure 1 showed the percentage of individual
of parasitoids collected from all three study site in the oil palm
area.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A. Abundance of all insects in three different habitats
A total 194 individuals of parasitoids that mainly
associated with bagworms collected were belonging to only
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2013 IEEE Symposium on Humanities, Science and Engineering Research (SHUSER)
interior and the beneficial plant area, consists of more than
20% of total parasitoids. This species of parasitoid can be
found on bagworm, Metisa plana as a primary parasitoid and
as a hyperparasitoid on Mahasena corbetti [19]. Most
Tetratichus sp. is gregarious larval-pupal endoparasitoid and
koinobiont [20] – [23], which it allows the host to continue its
development while feeding upon it.
Eupelmidae recorded the highest percentage with 47.42%
(92 individuals), followed by Dipteran family, Tachinidae
with 22.17% (43 individuals), Braconidae (13.4%, 26
individuals), Ichneumonidae (11.86%, 23 individuals),
Cerophonidae and Eurytomidae (both constituted 2.06%, four
individuals), and Eupelmidae with only 1.03% (two
individuals).
Tetratichus sp. from family Eulophidae recorded the
highest number in individuals collected in two sites, the
TABLE I. NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS OF PARASITOIDS COLLECTED FROM T HREE DIFFERENT SITES IN T HE OIL PALM AREA
Species
Aphanogmus thylax
Eupelmus catoxanthae
Eurytoma sp.
Pediobius anomalus
Pediobius elasmi
Pediobius imbrues
Sympiesis sp.
Tetrastichus sp.
Dolichogenidea metesae
Apanteles aluella
Goryphus bunoh
Paraphylax varius
Busymania oxymora
Spinaria spinator
Family
Ceraphonidae
Eupelmidae
Eurytomidae
Eulophidae
Eulophidae
Eulophidae
Eulophidae
Eulophidae
Braconidae
Braconidae
Ichneumonidae
Ichneumonidae
Ichneumonidae
Ichneumonidae
Tachinidae
Order
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Diptera
1
1
1
6
2
3
2
6
10
2
4
1
20
Margin
2
1
1
4
3
6
3
17
10
5
4
11
Interior
1
2
4
6
9
3
16
5
1
2
3
1
3
12
Beneficial plant
Total
4
2
4
14
11
20
8
39
25
1
7
11
1
4
43
Total individuals
59
67
68
194
Total families
7
7
6
As for Ichneumonidae, there were four species recorded,
namely Paraphylax varius with 5.67% of total parasitoids,
Goryphus bunoh (3.61%), Spinaria spinator (2.06%) and
Busymania oxymora (0.52%). Paraphylax varius was found as
a hyperparasitoid for Dolichogenidea metesae on Metisa plana
and some species of nettle caterpillars (Norman et al., 1998).
Goryphus bunoh was found as a primary parasitoid for both
Metisa plana and Mahasena corbetti but can be a
hyperparasitoid for nettle caterpillar species, Setora nitens
(Lepidoptera: Cochlidiidae). Another two species of bagworm
moths that related to Goryphus bunoh as its host are Amatissa
sp. and Dappula sp. (Lepidoptera: Psychidae). Spinaria
spinator was only found on nettle caterpillar, Setora nitens, as
a primary parasitoid.
There were other four parasitoid species belonging to
Eulophidae family, namely Pediobius imbrues, which
constituted 10.31% of total parasitoids, Pediobius anomalus
(7.23%), Pediobius elasmi (5.67%) and Sympiesis (4.12%).
Pediobius imbrues is mainly found as a primary and
hyperparasitoid for bagworm, Metisa plana [19]. This species
has broad range of 18 other hosts and acted as an obligate and
facultative hyperparasitoids for other Hymenopteran
parasitoids [4]. It is also recorded as the most dominant
parasitoids found with parasitized bagworms [12]. Due to this
fact, it showed that its effectiveness as primary parasitoid was
not affected by its hyperparasitic behaviour.
Pediobius anomalus is basically behaving as both primary
and hyperparasitoid for two major bagworms, Metisa plana
and Pteroma pendula [19]. Pediobius elasmi can be found on
other bagworm species, Mahasena corbetti, as primary and
hyperparasitoid. As for Sympiesis sp., it can be found on
Metisa plana and Mahasena corbetti as a primary parasitoid.
Pediobius elasmi and Pediobius imbrues also can be found as
hyperparasitoid for two other moth pests, namely Artona
catoxantha (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae) and Parasa lepida
(Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) [19].
Family Braconidae was represented by only two species,
namely Dolichogenidea metesae and Apanteles aluella.
Dolichogenidea metesae was far more abundant in number of
individuals than Apanteles aluella in all three sites, consists of
12.89% of total parasitoids collected. Dolichogenidea metesae
can be found as primary parasitoid for bagworm. However, its
parasitizing activities can be interrupted by Pediobius
imbrues, which acted as hyperparasitoid [12]. Apanteles
alluella, which only one individual found in the beneficial
plant area, was recorded as primary parasitoid for Darna trima
(Lepidoptera: Limacodidae), another moth pest species [19].
Figure 1. The percentage of total parasitoids collected from all three
localities in the oil palm area
Of all the parasitoid species collected from the three
localities, there were three families owned only one parasitoid
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2013 IEEE Symposium on Humanities, Science and Engineering Research (SHUSER)
significant role in supporting the sustenance of parasitoids in
the oil palm area [9]. This study proved that the practices of
establishing the beneficial plants in the oil palm area by the
management were able to utilize the parasitoids as the natural
enemies of bagworm pests. However, the H’ value is still
considered low. It suggested that the establishing the
beneficial plants in the study area need to be implemented
extensively.
species recorded. Those families were Ceraphonidae,
Eurytomidae and Eupelmidae. Aphanogmus thylax from
Cerphonidae consist of 2.06 % or four individuals collected
from all three sites. This species can be found on Metisa plana
and Mahasena corbetti as a hyperparasitoid [19]. Eurytoma
sp. from Eurytomidae also recorded four individuals
altogether and can be found on Metisa plana, Mahasena
corbetti and other lepidopterans as a hyperparasitoid as well.
However, most species of the large and widespread parasitoid
genus Eurytoma prefer to attack gall wasps Cynipidae
(Hymenoptera) and two other Diptera families, namely
Tephritidae (fruite flies) and Cecidomyidae (gall midges or
gnats) [24]. As for Eupelmus catoxanthae, only two
individuals collected from both matgin and interior sites. This
species can be found on Metisa plana and Mahasena corbetti
as primary and hyperparasitoid. Other hosts are including
moth pest species Artona catoxantha and Parasa lepida.
At the interior site, the H’ value (2.183) was also
influenced by the E’ value (0.74) and the R’ value (2.616),
where the diversity of the parasitoids was a little bit less
diverse compared to the beneficial plant area. All area in the
interior site was covered with oil palm trees and most palms
were uniform in age and size. Hence, this area may not be able
to contribute on the sustenance of the parasitoids due to the
lack of beneficial plants as food sources. However, it may
serve as a support for biological interaction with bagworm
pests as hosts for their reproduction and larval development.
Tachinidae, the only dipterans parasitoid family recorded
comprises 22.17%, making them second most number
collected in all three sites, after Hymenopterans family,
Eulophidae.
Tachinidae is included more than 8,500
described species worldwide and all of them are parasitoids of
insects or ohter arthropods, and rank second only to the
parasitic Hymenoptera in diversity and ecological importance
as insect parasitoids [25]. Therefore, this group has been
recognized to be very valuable to humans, because the larval
stages are parasites of other insects and many species aid in
keeping pest species in balance [15]. Tachnids attack many
different groups on insects and although most of them are
restricted to certain hosts, a few can develop in a wide variety
of hosts. All tachinid species recorded that associated with
bagworms can be found on Mahasena corbetti and acted as a
primary parasitoid [19].
As for the margin site, the H’ value (2.087) was the lowest
among all three study sites. Nevertheless, the diversity index,
H’ value, were still influenced by both E’ (0.62) and R’
(2.943) values. Margin sites were situated at the edge of the oil
palm plantation area. This area was adjacent with the main
road, management building, factories, stores, houses and
others. Hence, it received the most disturbances and
anthropogenic effects directly as compared to other two sites.
The lack of beneficial plants and oil palm trees also
contributed the low level of diversity and species richness in
the area.
In general, all of these sites in the oil palm plantation were
dealing directly with a lot of factors like the high temperature,
low humidity and direct disturbances affect, which lead to the
loss of diversity of fauna in the oil palm plantation [26]. These
factors were observed and detected in every part of the oil
palm studied area. In this case, homogeneous environment,
where type of vegetation, rainfall counts, level of humidity
and temperature, and soil structure are almost identical in the
whole area, is expected to exist. Homogenisation of
landscapes due to agricultural intensification is widely
recognised as the principal cause of declining farmland
wildlife populations [27].
B. Diversity of all insects in the three different localities
The richness of parasitoid species and the abundance in
three localities based on diversity and evenness are presented
in Table 2. The H’, E’ and R’ values were varied between
three different localities in the oil palm area, even though their
values are relatively low due to small number of population.
The highest parasitoid diversity was found in the beneficial
plant area, which has a Shannon-Wiener index diversity of
2.294. The next highest level of diversity was found in the
moderately disturbed habitat, the interior site, which had a
diversity index of 2.183. Finally, the lowest amount of
diversity was observed in the margin site, which had a high
level of disturbance and a diversity of 2.087. Evenness also
tracked habitat and disturbance, but with the greatest value
being associated with the interior site, followed by the
beneficial plant site and the margin site.
Shannon-Wiener diversity index was then analyzed by
using one-way ANOVA in order to compare the significant
differences between the three localities. The result showed that
there were no significant differences between the three
habitats with p>0.05. Therefore, there were no significant
values in terms of species distribution in all three sites.
C. Similarity of all parasitoids in three different localities in
the oil palm area
Percent of parasitoid species similarities (Jaccard’s
Coefficient Index) among the three localities which is shown
in Table 3 and Figure 2 were relatively high (more than 70%).
The similarity value was 80% (Jaccard’s Coefficient Index =
0.8), 92.3% and 73% between beneficial plant and margin,
interior and margin, and beneficial plant area and interior
respectively.
TABLE II.
SHANNON-WIENER DIVERSITY INDEX (H’),
EVENNESS INDEX (E’) AND MARGALEF RICHNESS I NDEX (R’) FOR ALL
PARASITOIDS COLLECTED AT THE T HREE LOCALITIES IN THE OIL PALM
AREA
Taxa. S’
Individuals
Shannon, H’
Evenness,
E’
Margalef,
R’
Margin
13
59
2.087
0.620
2.943
Interior
12
67
2.183
0.740
2.616
B/plant
14
68
2.294
0.708
3.081
The higher value of H’ at the beneficial plant site is
influenced by the value of (E’ = 0.708) and value of (R’ =
3.081). The high value of diversity in the study site is expected
due to the consisted of plant species that play a very
TABLE III.
THE J ACCARD’S COEFFICIENT INDEX (SIMILARITY
INDEX) FOR ALL PARASITOIDS IN THREE DIFFERENT
LOCALITIES IN THE OIL PALM AREA
133
2013 IEEE Symposium on Humanities, Science and Engineering Research (SHUSER)
Margin
Interior
REFERENCES
B/plant
Margin
1
0.92308
0.8
Interior
0.92308
1
0.73333
B/plant
0.8
0.73333
1
[1]
[2]
The low percent similarity between the interior and
beneficial plant area (73%) or high similarity between the
interior and margin area (92.3%) suggested that there were
distances between the three different localities in the oil palm
area which influenced by the number of shared parasitoid
species.
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
Figure 2. Dendrogram from a cluster analysis based on presence and absence
of each family of non-parasitoids recorded at different localities in the oil
palm area, utilizing Jaccard’s Coefficient Index (= similarity index) and the
unweighted-pair groups method (UPGMA).
[11]
[12]
The interior part of the oil palm plantation area may
represent more similar in terms of habitat characteristics and
environment with the margin area. The most obvious and
important factor is both areas provided less food source for the
available parasitoid species in the plantation area.
[13]
E.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the level of diversity and abundance of parasitoids
in the oil palm area of FELDA Gunung Besout 6 is considered
low. The impact of oil palm expansion is still severe towards
their biodiversity. Taken from the results, the factors like food
resources, disturbances and anthropogenic effect are still play
the main role in conserving the biodiversity and ecosystem in
certain area. Hence, the designation of oil palm landscape
should be functioned in healthier and more sustainable way in
order to provide a wide range of ecosystem services and the
conservation of biodiversity.
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
[18]
Special appreciation to Mr. Norkhaidi Harun, former
manager of FELDA Gunung Besout 6 and Mr. Azrulizam Ab.
Hamid, assistant manager, for the permission and supports
during the field work. Special thanks also to Mr. Jayprakash
Pertabai from MARDI and Mr. Roslan Abd. Aziz from UKM,
for their assistances in identified the insect species. Thanks to
all academic and admin staffs at FPA and FSG for their
supports and cooperation. This project was totally funded by
Excellence Funds, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 600RMI/ST/DANA 5/3/Dst (476/2011).
[19]
[20]
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