title: The Effects of Light and Height of Building in AttractingPaederus fuscipesCurtis to Disperse towards Human Residential Areas.
abstract: Paederus fuscipesCurtis is a nocturnal insect. The attractiveness of artificial light sources from residential premises eventually causes the risk of severe dermatitis effect, oncePaederusis in contact with human skin. The objective of this study is to investigate whether the light and height factors of residential buildings and its' association to rice cultivation phases are primary reasons forP. fuscipes's mass dispersal into human residential areas. The study site was located in residential premises that were built adjacent to rice field areas (≈ 32-60 m and 164 m) north of the rice field located in Teluk Air Tawar, mainland of Pulau Pinang. Overall, both light sources and rice cultivation phases caused a significant effect forP. fuscipesbeetles dispersal flight to invade human settlements. MoreP. fuscipeswere captured near the bright light source with the highest number of beetles found during harvesting stage. Whereas, significantly higher number ofP. fuscipeswere captured at level 2 and 3 compared to ground and level 1 of the apartment building andP. fuscipeswas also found significantly affected by the rice cultivation phases at different elevation levels. This indicates that bright light sources and higher elevation levels are the main factors in attractingP. fuscipesbeetles to disperse and causes infestations in residential areas. This finding could create awareness among the public onP. fuscipesdispersal pattern.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Sufian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maryam
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nik
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fadzly
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia; Vector Control Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wan Fatma
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Zuharah
keywords: Fluorescent Light; Paederus Dermatitis; Rice Field; Rove Beetle