Unrecorded for 100 yrs, grasshopper discovered on Mount Hamiguitan
NEW species—including a pygmy grasshopper that has not been recorded for more than a century—were discovered on Mount Hamiguitan on Davao Oriental recently.
The other species discovered were a snout beetle, two flowering plants, a terrestrial orchid species and a grass fern, said Butch S. Pagcaliwagan of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
“Arulenus validispinus, commonly known as the four-spined pygmy devil, has not been recorded for more than a century,” explained Dr. Victor B. Amoroso, leader of the Central Mindanao University (CMU) research team.
The flowering plants are Hypericum perryongii Galindon, sp.
Nov and Gymnosiphon syceorosensis (Burmanniaceae).
A type of snout beetle, Metapocyrtus (Artapocyrtus) brons sp. Nov, was also recorded, Pagcaliwagan said.
The terrestrial orchid species is the Dilochia deleoniae, and the grass fern is called Actinostachys minuta Amoroso and Coritico, Pagcaliwagan added.
These findings were part of the study, “Biodiversity in selected mountain ecosystems of Mindanao for conservation and sustainable development,” of the Biodiversity Science and Technology Program that is funded and monitored by the DOSTPCAARRD.
Mount Hamiguitan is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) World Heritage Site.
It has already been declared as an Asean Heritage Park. The mountain range showcases terrestrial and aquatic habitats, and includes threatened and endemic flora and fauna species.
Besides Mount Hamiguitan, Mount Apo in North Cotabato, and Mount Pantaron and Mount Tago, both in Bukidnon, were included in the study also conducted by the University of the Philippines Los Baños-museum of Natural History, Davao Oriental State University and the Philippine National Museum, Pagcaliwagan pointed out.
Mountains offer much more than spectacular views. A great part of its beauty lies in its being a home to varied and abundant life species, many of which are waiting to be discovered to this day, he noted.