UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

NORHISHAM AHMAD RAZI

FH 2012 8

DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF THE BAMBOO BORER, Dinoderus minutus Fabricius

(COLEOPTERA: BOSTRYCHIDAE)

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DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF THE BAMBOO

BORER, Dinoderus minutus Fabricius

(COLEOPTERA: BOSTRYCHIDAE)

By

NORHISHAM AHMAD RAZI

Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, in

Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science

January 2012

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DEDICATIONS

I would like to dedicate this thesis to my father, Ahmad Razi Bin Othman, for

instilling a curiosity for science and learning; to my sisters and brothers for

encouraging me and convincing me to believe in myself and for always believing in

me even when I did not; my fiancée, Rosnidawati Said, for being my friend

supporting me in all of my endeavors; and most especially to my mother, Zainab

Binti Adzid, who always believed in me and made it all possible.

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Abstract of thesis presented to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia in fulfilment of

the requirement for the degree of Master of Science

DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF THE BAMBOO

BORER, Dinoderus minutus Fabricius (COLEOPTERA: BOSTRYCHIDAE)

By

NORHISHAM BIN AHMAD RAZI

January 2012

Chairperson: Assoc. Prof. Faizah Abood, PhD

Faculty: Faculty of Forestry

Infestation by the bamboo borer, Dinoderus minutus on felled culms and bamboo

products is a serious problem in the bamboo industry worldwide particularly in

Malaysia. However, biological studies concerning Dinoderus spp. is very scarce in spite

of the great economic importance of this problem. Since bamboo is very susceptible to

borers this project is conducted to examine and investigate the development and

reproductive aspects of the bamboo borer, D. minutus. Developmental stages of D.

minutus on bamboo block of Gigantochloa scortechinii shows a significant difference

(p<0.01) in boring capacity and lifespan of adult beetle at different moisture content

tested. Infestation can occur from early felling of bamboo and it became severe as

moisture content decreased to 15% moisture content. Overall life cycle recorded for D.

minutus from egg to adult stage in bamboo was 98.28±1.26 days. Establishment of

culture on nutrient rich diet showed cassava (Manihot esculenta) as a suitable culture

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medium for D. minutus with continuous emergence of newly emerged beetle throughout

the rearing period. Continuous emergence of newly emerged beetles started from day 90

onwards throughout the rearing period. Observation on sexual characteristics of D.

minutus showed no sexual differences in adult beetle. Sexual identification was noticed

in the terminal abdominal segment of pupa. Gonapophyses, comprising a pair of conical

extrusions were present at the terminal abdominal segment in the female pupa whilst a

pair of parameres was observed in the male. These morphological characteristics which

was identified only in the pupal stage, proved to be the most reliable method to

determine the sex of D. minutus. Ovipositional characteristics of D. minutus from

population reared on bamboo and cassava showed no significant difference (p≥0.05) for

pre-ovipositional and ovipositional period between female beetles from both culture.

However, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in total egg laid per female per

lifespan. Female beetle from cassava produced higher egg per lifespan due to longer

ovipositional period. Egg incubation varied from fourth to sixth day with a mean period

of 5.21±0.22 days. Egg development was observed to be prominent on third day with

yolk globules becoming tightly packed taking the form of larvae. Hatchability of egg

was 61.5%±1.24 from 100 eggs collected. Study on larval development of D. minutus

using individual rearing method on different powder-state diet resulted with highest

number of succeeding instar into pupal stage in cassava flour. Five classes of head

capsule were obtained indicating five moults from first instar to pupa with a mean

duration of 52.8±0.31 days. There were significant difference (p<0.01) for head capsule

width, larval body length and weight, and duration for different instars. Detailed

information provided on the development and reproductive biology of D. minutus will

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serve as a basis for a deeper understanding of its biological development before proper

control management can be established.

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Abstrak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Putra Malaysia sebagai

memenuhi keperluan Ijazah Master Sains

PERKEMBANGAN DAN KESUBURAN BUBUK BULUH, Dinoderus minutus

Fabricius (COLEOPTERA: BOSTRYCHIDAE)

Oleh

NORHISHAM BIN AHMAD RAZI

Januari 2012

Chairperson: Prof. Madya Faizah Abood, PhD

Faculty: Fakulti Perhutanan

Serangan bubuk buluh, Dinoderus minutus ke atas batang dan produk buluh merupakan

satu masalah utama dalam industri buluh di dunia terutamanya di Malaysia. Sungguhpun

impak ekonomi ini besar, rujukan tentang kajian biologi spesies ini pula masih sedikit.

Projek ini dijalankan kerana buluh terdedah kepada serangan bubuk. Dalam kajian ini

maklumat terperinci mengenai aspek-aspek perkembangan dan pembiakan D. minutus

telah diperolehi. Perkembangan D. minutus pada kandungan kelembapan yang berbeza

dalam blok buluh daripada spesies Gigantocholoa schortechinii menunjukkan perbezaan

signifikan (p<0.01) terhadap kapasiti korekan dan umur kumbang dewasa pada kadar

kelembapan yang diuji. Serangan boleh bermula daripada peringkat awal tebangan dan

menjadi semakin serius apabila kadar kelembapan berkurangan mencapai kandungan

kelembapan 15%. Kitar hidup yang direkodkan bagi D. minutus yang bermuladaripada

peringkat telur ke dewasa di dalam buluh adalah 98.28±1.26 hari. Penghasilan medium

pengkulturan daripada diet yang kaya nutrien menunjukkan ubi kayu sebagai satu

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medium yang sesuai untuk D. minutus dengan kesinambungan generasi kumbang

dewasa sepanjang tempoh pengkulturan. Kesinambungan generasi kumbang dewasa

bermula pada hari ke-90 sewaktu tempoh kultur. Pemerhatian pada D. minutus

menunjukkan peringkat kumbang dewasa tidak mempunyai perbezaan ciri seksual. Ciri

seksual dikenalpasti di bahagian hujung abdomen pada peringkat pupa. Gonafofisis,

yang terdiri daripada sepasang unjuran konikal terletak di segmen terminal pada pupa

betina dan sepasang paramer terletak pada pupa jantan. Ciri morfologi seksual ini yang

hanya dikenalpasti pada peringkat pupa merupakan kaedah yang terbaik bagi

menentukan jantina D. minutus. Kesuburan D. minutus daripada kultur populasi buluh

berbanding ubi kayu menunjukkan tiada perbezaan signifikan (p≥0.05) bagi tempoh pra-

kesuburan dan kesuburan antara kedua-dua populasi tersebut. Walau bagaimanapun,

terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan (p<0.05) bagi kadar pengeluaran telur bagi setiap

kumbang betina dalam kitar hidup. Kumbang betina daripada populasi ubi kayu

menghasilkan telur yang lebih banyak disebabkan tempoh kesuburan yang lebih

panjang. Tempoh inkubasi telur mengambil tempoh masa di antara empat ke enam hari

dengan purata tempoh 5.21±0.22 hari. Perkembangan telur semakin jelas pada hari

ketiga apabila globul-globul yolka menjadi padat mengambil bentuk larva. Peratus

penetasan telur yang direkodkan adalah 61.5%±1.24 daripada 100 telur yang dikaji.

Kajian perkembangan larva D. minutus menggunakan teknik penyelenggaraan larva

secara individu menunjukkan peratus hidup yang paling tinggi pada serbuk ubi kayu

daripada peringkat larva ke pupa. Lima kumpulan kapsul kepala diperolehi

menunjukkan lima proses ekdises yang berlaku daripada instar pertama sehinggalah ke

peringkat pupa dengan purata tempoh selama 52.8±0.31 hari. Terdapat perbezaan yang

signifikan (p<0.01) pada lebar sarung kepala, panjang dan berat larva dan tempoh bagi

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setiap instar. Maklumat terperinci tentang biologi perkembangan dan pembiakan

memainkan peranan penting untuk mendalami kefahaman mengenai biologi D. minutus.

Ini pula akan menghasilkan pengawalan dan pengawasan yang lebih berkesan bagi

perosak ini.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

All praise be to Almighty ALLAH s.w.t. for giving me the utmost strength to have this

thesis complete. With this priceless opportunity, I would like to express my deepest

gratitude to my supervisor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Faizah Abood who has been constantly a

great help throughout my study, giving invaluable guidance and advise which I

appreciate deeply. The journey would not be worth it without her assistance,

encouragement and support. I would also like to extend my gratitude and thanks to all

members of the graduate committee Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zaidon B. Ashaari and Prof. Dr.

Rita Muhamad Awang for their constructive comments, advice and guidance.

I would also like to thank Mohd Shahman Mohd Azmi and Andy Anthony who has been

working together with me in Wood Deterioration and Control Laboratory giving me

advice, encouragement and ideas in completing this project. I would also like to thank

my colleague Sapari Mat and Razak Terhem for the constructive critism and suggestion

to help the progress of the study. In addition, I would like to express my gratitude to all

my friends in Faculty of Forestry, Zulkhairi Azizi and others who has been supporting

me in completing this project.

And lastly, and most importantly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my

family for the encouragement, prayer, support and attention throughout the course of this

project. Thank you all!!! I hope I can always be there for you in the way you supported

me!

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I certify that an Examination Committee has met on date of viva voce to conduct the

final examination of Norhisham Ahmad Razi on his thesis entitled “Development and

Reproductive Biology of The Bamboo Borer, Dinoderus minutus Fabricius

(Coleoptera: Bostrychidae)” in accordance with the universities and University

Colleges Act 1971 and the Constitution of Universiti Putra Malaysia [P.U.(A) 106] 15

March 1998. The Committee recommends that the student be awarded the Master of

Science.

Members of the Thesis Examination Committees were as follows:

Kamaruzaman Sijam, PhD

Associate Professor

Faculty of Agriculture

Universiti Putra Malaysia

(Chairman)

Dzolkhifli Omar, PhD

Professor

Faculty of Agriculture

Universiti Putra Malaysia

(Internal Examiner)

Nur Azura Adam, PhD

Faculty of Agriculture

Universiti Putra Malaysia

(Internal Examiner)

Maryati Mohamed, PhD

Professor

Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Universiti Tun Hussein Onn

(External Examiner)

_______________________________

SEOW HENG FONG, PhD

Associate Professor and Deputy Dean

School of Graduate Studies

Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date: 2 March 2012

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This thesis was submitted to the senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia has been accepted

as fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master Science. The members of the

Supervisory Committee were as follows:

Faizah Abood, PhD

Associate Professor

Faculty of Forestry

Universiti Putra Malaysia

(Chairman)

Zaidon Ashaari, PhD

Associate Professor

Faculty of Forestry

Universiti Putra Malaysia

(Member)

Rita Muhamad Awang, PhD

Professor

Faculty of Agriculture

Universiti Putra Malaysia

(Member)

______________________________

BUJANG BIN KIM HUAT, PhD

Professor and Dean

School of Graduate Studies

Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date:

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I declare that the thesis is my original work except for quotations and citation, which has

been duly acknowledged. I declare this thesis has not been previously and is not

currently, submitted for any other degree at Universiti Putra Malaysia or other

institutions.

___________________________

NORHISHAM AHMAD RAZI

Date: 26 January 2012

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LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

1 Developmental period of different stages 12

2 Uses of twelve commercial bamboo species in Malaysia 21

3 Number of entrance holes and lifespan of adult beetle at different 28

moisture contents

4 Developmental period for D. minutus at 15% moisture content and 33

distance of egg from boring holes based on length of ovipositor

extrusion in bamboo

5 Body length and pronotum width of adult beetle 52

6 Ovipositional parameters of D. minutus at 27±2°c and 75±5% 60

relative humidity

7 Incubation period, egg dimension and length of ovipositor 64

8 Dimension and weight from larval to pupa stage and application of 77

Dyar’s rule on head capsule

9 Developmental periods from first instar larva to pupa on cassava flour 78

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

1 Survivorship proportion of adult beetle with respect to moisture content 29

of bamboo.

2 Scatter plot showing correlation coefficient that exists between 43

number of live newly emerged beetle and emergence holes

produced by D. minutus on cassava

3 Non-linear regression on live newly emerged beetle and emergence holes 44

obtained under laboratory conditions.

4 Mean fecundity curve of D. minutus population from cassava and 62

bamboo at 27±2°c and 75±5% relative humidity.

5 Mean survivorship curves of adult D. minutus population reared on 63

cassava for several generations at 27±2°c and 75±5% relative

humidity.

6 Mean survivorship curves of adult D. minutus population reared on 63

bamboo for several generations at 27±2°C and 75±5% relative humidity.

7 Mortality of larva reared on different powder form diet. 75

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LIST OF PLATES

Plate Page

1 Boring pattern of adult beetle on bamboo block; 30

(a) entrance holes from tangential side and

(b) boring tunnels of adult beetles

2 Stereomicrograph of (a) male approaching female during copulation (x20) 31

and (b) mandibular groove made by female on bamboo block (x60)

3 Scanning electron micrograph observation on deposition of D. minutus 32

egg in bamboo (arrow showing egg deposition in metaxylem)

4 Developmental stages of D. minutus in bamboo; a. eclosion to first instar, 35

b. second week larvae, c. third week larvae, d. fourth week larvae and,

e. pupae on week six

5 Boring pattern of adult beetle (a) inside cassava block and (b) on 42

cassava block surface

6 Observation under stereomicroscope of dorsal, lateral and ventral 53

views of D. minutus showing no morphological differences between

male and female adults (x40)

7 Dorsal, lateral and ventral views of scanning electron micrograph of 54

D. minutus showing no morphological differences between male and

female adults (x30)

8 Ventral view of scanning electron micrograph of apical abdominal 55

segments in (a) female and (b) male D.minutus pupa (x200).

gp., genital plate; gp., gonapophyses; pm., parameres

9 Lateral view of scanning electron micrograph of apical abdominal 56

segments in (a) female and (b) male pupa

10 Egg distribution pattern (x20): a. single, b. pair and c. cluster 57

11 Scanning electron micrograph of female ovipositor (x120) 58

12 Observation under (a) compound and (b) stereomicroscope of ovipositor 59

showing an., anus; bc., bursa copulatrix; bp., basal piece; fr., forked rod;

p., vaginal palp; rd., chitinised rod; vo., vaginal orifice (x80)

13 Development of D. minutus egg: a. first day, b. third day, c. fourth day, 66

d. fifth day

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14 Enlarged images of powder form diet used in individual rearing (x50); 73

a. Bamboo frass, b. Bamboo powder, c. Cassava flour

15 Eclosion into first instar larva under stereomicroscope (x80) 77

16 Scanning electron micrograph of first to fifth instar larva 80

17 Scanning electron micrograph of changes in leg (left hand side) 81

and antennae (right hand side) in the course of larval development

18 Stereomicrograph of (a) first instar larva to pupa (x40) and 82

(b) head capsule attached to exuviae (x80)

19 Scanning electron micrograph of pupae from dorsal, lateral and 84

ventral view

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ANOVA Analysis of Variance

MC Moisture content

SAS Statistical Analysis System

SEM Scanning Electron Micrograph