SCIENTIFIC CORRESPONDENCE the body of hydra7. Long-term exposure 3. Kalafatić, M., Kovačević, G., Ljubešić, acknowledge the support of the Ministry of to waterborne iron led to a significant N. and Šunjić, H., Period. Biol., 2001, Science, Education and Sport of the Republic accumulation of metal in liver that 103, 267–272. of Croatia (project 119-1193080-1214 ‘Mo- caused tissue damage in fish6. Although 4. Siebert, S., Anton-Erxleben, F. and lecular phylogeny, evolution and symbiosis of iron depositions were not detected in Bosch, T. C. G., Dev. Biol., 2007, 313, freshwater invertebrates’). 13–24. mesoglea, morphometric measurement of 5. Douglas, A. E., Symbiotic Interactions, Received 6 October 2015; revised accepted 6 mesoglea verified various thickness Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1994. November 2015 values (Figure 2), presumably due to its 6. Gregorović, G., Kralj-Klobučar, N. and largely non-cellular structure. It is assu- Kopjar, N., J. Fish Biol., 2008, 72, 1, ,† med that mesoglea represents a buffer of 1841–1846. GORAN KOVAČEVIĆ * 2,† some sort13. Exposure to iron can cause 7. Kovačević, G., Želježić, D., Horvatin, K. GORDANA GREGOROVIĆ 3 the retention of water in mesoglea, due to and Kalafatić, M., Symbiosis, 2007, 44, ANA MATIJEVIĆ 1 its inability to eliminate excess water 145–152. MIRJANA KALAFATIĆ from the body by contracting14 and can 8. Kasahara, S. and Bosch, T. C. G., Dev. 1 enhance synthesis of its constituents, Comp. Immunol., 2003, 27, 79–166. Faculty of Science, 9. Špoljar, M., Lajtner, J. and Primc- which can thicken mesoglea. University of Zagreb, Habdija, B., Biologia Bratislava, 2005, Department of Biology, In conclusion, non-symbiotic brown 60, 201–205. Zoology, Rooseveltov trg 6, hydra exhibited greater susceptibility to 10. Stebbing, A. R. D., Sci. Tot. Environ., iron. Symbiotic green hydra survived HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia 1982, 22, 213–234. 2 better in the given micro-environmental 11. Furmańska, M., Pol. Arch. Hydrobiol., Ministry of Health, conditions. The present study may point 1979, 26, 213–220. Ksaver 200a, towards the advantages of symbiosis in 12. Martin, T. R. and Holdich, D. M., Water Department of Pharmaceutical the living world. Res., 1986, 20, 1137–1147. Inspection, 13. Kovačević, G., Kalafatić, M. and HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Horvatin, K., Folia Biol. Krakow, 2009, 3University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 1. Martin, H. M. and Coughtrey, P. J., Bio- 57, 139–142. Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, logical Monitoring of Heavy Metal 14. Benos, D. J. and Prusch, R. D., Com- Kišpatićeva 12, HR-10000 Zagreb, Pollution. Land and Air, Applied Science parative Biochemistry and Physiology, Croatia Publishers, London and New York, Part A. Physiology, 1972, 43, 165–171. 1982. *For correspondence. 2. Poli, G. and Parola, M., Free Radic. Biol. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. We thank Ms e-mail: [email protected] † Med., 1997, 22, 287–305. Nadica Vincek for technical assistance. We Equally contributed to this paper. Aquilaria malaccensis fruit borer in Peninsular Malaysia Aquilaria malaccensis Lam. (Thyme- low, with less than 0.2 kg per tree for a feeding on the fleshy capsule (Figure 1), laeaceae) has a natural distribution in high-grade resin3. whereas in Perak a larva was found in- lowland tropical forests in Peninsular A. malaccensis is currently listed as side an aborted fruit randomly picked Malaysia, India, Myanmar, Sumatra, vulnerable according to the IUCN Red from the ground. A hole measuring about Singapore, Borneo and the Philippines. List4 due to overexploitation. Conserva- 3 mm in diameter was seen penetrating The tree is highly valued for its resin, tion of A. malaccensis is important to en- through the capsule into the fleshy part known as agarwood or popularly known sure the sustainability of resources, and (Figure 2). The larvae were extracted and as ‘gaharu’ in the region, which is uti- this requires an understanding of its re- lized in various products such as perfum- productive biology5, which is lacking. ery, incense, decorative carvings and Therefore, a series of phenological stud- pharmaceutical products. Agarwood is ies were conducted on wild A. malaccen- produced when an agarwood-producing sis trees in the forested areas at Penang tree is wounded or infected with fungi, Island and Perak, Malaysia beginning microorganisms or insect borers, whereby 2011. The fruits and seeds were also col- the borers could also act as a vector of lected from each study site by placing diseases1. Only 10% of trees in the wild 10–20 square-framed nettings measuring can become infected by the fungi2 and 1 m 1 m each under the tree prior to the produce the much-sought-after resin. fruiting season for abortion and germina- Indiscriminate felling of agarwood- tion studies. Damaged fruits were scruti- producing trees, especially A. malaccen- nized for the presence of insect pests. sis, in the forests has gone beyond con- In Penang, one of the aborted and trol in certain countries. The harvested damaged fruits from a total of 1144 had a Figure 1. Larva partially concealed within quantity of agarwood is, however, very mature larva living inside and was seen its feeding tunnel (arrow). 504 CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 110, NO. 4, 25 FEBRUARY 2016 SCIENTIFIC CORRESPONDENCE reared in a plastic container lined with the dorsal and lateral surface of its ab- although early observations show that tissue paper at 26–28C and 60–80% domen (Figure 3 a). It also had fine setae fruit feeders such as macaques and squir- humidity in the laboratory. The larva was protruding from the sides of its abdomen. rels have a greater impact. yellow in colour with black knobs lining The larvae pupated 3–6 days later under- neath the fold of the tissue paper. The 1. Donovan, D. and Puri, R., Ecol. Soc., adult moth emerged after 14 days in 2004, 9, 3. 2. Gibson, I. A. S., Bano Biggyan Patrika, pupation (Figure 3 b). The pupa from the 1977, 6(1), 16–26; Ng, L. T., Chang, Y. S. larva sample collected in Penang, how- and Kadir, A. A., J. Trop. For. Prod., ever, failed to emerge. The moth was 1997, 2, 272–285. identified as Pitama hermesalis Walker 3. Soehartono, T. and Newton, A. C., Biol. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) according to Conserv., 2001, 97, 29–41. Robinson et al.6 with a wingspan of 4. Asian Regional Workshop (Conservation 30 mm (Figure 3 c). To our knowledge, and Sustainable Management of Trees, there are no previous records of the moth Viet Nam, August 1996), 1998. Aquilaria species found infesting the fruits of wild malaccensis. The IUCN Red List of A. malaccensis tree. Threatened Species. Version 2014.3; www.iucnredlist.org (retrieved on 20 The fruits of A. malaccensis could be Figure 2. Bore hole on the surface of Aqui- February 2015). an alternative host to P. hermesalis as its 5. Lau, K. H. and Chua, L. S. L., In Asia and laria malaccensis fruit. larva is usually observed feeding on the the Pacific Workshop – Multinational and leaves of wild and planted A. malaccen- Transboundary Conservation of Valuable sis in Peninsular Malaysia. The larva has and Endangered Forest Tree Species (eds a preference to live and feed between the Sim, H. C., Syuqiyah, A. H. and Li, M.), folds of two leaves that were attached IUFRO World Series 30, 2012, pp. 43–45. together using silk web. The green area 6. Robinson, G., Tuck, K. and Schaffer, M., A on the leaves was scraped-off causing it Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of to become translucent (S. P. Ong, pers. Southeast Asia, Malaysian Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur, 1994. obs.). Elsewhere in Indonesia, P. herme- 7. Lestari, F. and Suryanto, E., Serangan salis has also been reported feeding on 7 Hama Ulat Pitama hermesalis Pada the leaves of Aquilaria sp. trees . Tanaman Penghasil Gaharu di Kandangan Although the larva may not be feeding Kalimantan Selatan, Seminar Hasil Hutan on the seed, the damage was enough to Bukan Kayu, Balai Penelitian Kehutanan cause the fruit to abort prematurely (Fig- Mataram, 2012. ure 4), thus leading to underdeveloped seed. More studies are needed to assess ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. We thank ITTO the damage rate caused by P. hermesalis, Work Program element ‘Support to ITTO– CITES Implementation for Tree Species and Trade/Market Transparency’ for financial assistance, and all those who helped during the field excursion in Penang Island and Perak. Received 16 March 2015; accepted 6 October 2015 S. P. ONG* K. H. LAU Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia Figure 3 a–c. Life stages of Pitama herme- Figure 4. Feeding damage and frass of *For correspondence. salis. a, Mature larva. b, Pupa. c, Adult. Pitama hermesalis inside the aborted fruit. e-mail: [email protected] CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 110, NO. 4, 25 FEBRUARY 2016 505 .