Morphological redescription of adult Diplonychus molestus Dufour (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) from Penang, Malaysia

Diplonychus molestus (Dufour 1863), (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae), has shown potential as a biological control agent in aquatic environments including paddy fields. However, the taxonomic history of this species has been marked by confusion, particularly due to its close resemblance to Diplonychus rus...

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Main Authors: Ahmad Mustaqim Rahim, Suhaila Ab Hamid
Format: Article
Language:en
Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2025
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26559/1/serangga_3.pdf
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26559/
https://ejournal.ukm.my/serangga/article/view/77678
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author Ahmad Mustaqim Rahim,
Suhaila Ab Hamid,
author_facet Ahmad Mustaqim Rahim,
Suhaila Ab Hamid,
author_sort Ahmad Mustaqim Rahim,
building Tun Sri Lanang Library
collection Institutional Repository
content_provider Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
content_source UKM Journal Article Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
description Diplonychus molestus (Dufour 1863), (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae), has shown potential as a biological control agent in aquatic environments including paddy fields. However, the taxonomic history of this species has been marked by confusion, particularly due to its close resemblance to Diplonychus rusticus (Fabricius 1871). Thus, this study aimed to redescribe the species based on the key morphological characteristics. Using bucket light traps, specimens were collected from paddy fields in Pekan Darat, Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. The collected adults were preserved and identified using established taxonomic keys. Detailed morphological examinations were conducted, focusing on key characteristics that distinguish D. molestus from other closely related species. High-resolution images were captured to support the redescription, addressing previous taxonomic ambiguities.
format Article
id my-ukm.journal.26559
institution Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
language en
publishDate 2025
publisher Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
record_format eprints
spelling my-ukm.journal.265592026-02-25T01:13:00Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26559/ Morphological redescription of adult Diplonychus molestus Dufour (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) from Penang, Malaysia Ahmad Mustaqim Rahim, Suhaila Ab Hamid, Diplonychus molestus (Dufour 1863), (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae), has shown potential as a biological control agent in aquatic environments including paddy fields. However, the taxonomic history of this species has been marked by confusion, particularly due to its close resemblance to Diplonychus rusticus (Fabricius 1871). Thus, this study aimed to redescribe the species based on the key morphological characteristics. Using bucket light traps, specimens were collected from paddy fields in Pekan Darat, Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. The collected adults were preserved and identified using established taxonomic keys. Detailed morphological examinations were conducted, focusing on key characteristics that distinguish D. molestus from other closely related species. High-resolution images were captured to support the redescription, addressing previous taxonomic ambiguities. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2025 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26559/1/serangga_3.pdf Ahmad Mustaqim Rahim, and Suhaila Ab Hamid, (2025) Morphological redescription of adult Diplonychus molestus Dufour (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) from Penang, Malaysia. Serangga, 30 (1). pp. 27-36. ISSN 1394-5130 https://ejournal.ukm.my/serangga/article/view/77678
spellingShingle Ahmad Mustaqim Rahim,
Suhaila Ab Hamid,
Morphological redescription of adult Diplonychus molestus Dufour (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) from Penang, Malaysia
title Morphological redescription of adult Diplonychus molestus Dufour (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) from Penang, Malaysia
title_full Morphological redescription of adult Diplonychus molestus Dufour (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) from Penang, Malaysia
title_fullStr Morphological redescription of adult Diplonychus molestus Dufour (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) from Penang, Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Morphological redescription of adult Diplonychus molestus Dufour (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) from Penang, Malaysia
title_short Morphological redescription of adult Diplonychus molestus Dufour (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) from Penang, Malaysia
title_sort morphological redescription of adult diplonychus molestus dufour (hemiptera: belostomatidae) from penang, malaysia
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26559/1/serangga_3.pdf
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26559/
https://ejournal.ukm.my/serangga/article/view/77678
url_provider http://journalarticle.ukm.my/