Webspinner insects more widespread in PHL than previously thought

 

 

A species of webspinner insect previously thought not to be found in the Philippines was recently discovered by researchers from the University of the Philippines - Los Baños Institute of Biological Sciences, hinting that webspinners may not be as rare in the country as previously thought.

 

According to a study by Cristian Lucanas and Dr. Ireneo Lit, Jr., published in the Philippine Journal of Systematic Biology, there might actually be three species in the country.

 

Webspinners are insects from the Embioptera order of insects. Found largely in the tropics, they’re small and reclusive. They build nests and tunnels using silk produced from glands in their forelegs, spending almost all their time hidden and eating plant matter.

 

Scientists previously thought that only two Embioptera species existed in the Philippines, only one of which is endemic to the country. However, the UPLB researchers have found that, based on their study, that there might actually be three species that live in the Philippines: Aposthonia borneensis (Hagen), Oligotoma saundersii (Westwood), and Oligotoma sp. aff. humbertiana (Saussure). All three species fall under the Oligotomidae family.

 

Hagen webspinner specimens were found in Los Baños and Pagsanjan, Laguna. Saussure webspinners were also found in Pagsanjan and also in Polillo Island, Quezon while specimens of Westwood webspinners were found in Mt. Makiling, Laguna and Abra.

 

While the geographic range of Embioptera is greater than previously thought, they’re still vulnerable to pollution—specimens found in urban areas were in relatively less polluted locations. — TJD, GMA News