‘Pollinator’ Beetle Species Discovered in Compostela Valley

A new species of beetle was recently discovered in the forests of Compostela Valley province.

The new beetle species Mansaka Weevil, also known by the scientific name metapocyrtus orthocyrtus mansaka sp.n., is named after the indigenous people in the area – the Mansaka.

It was discovered by a team of scientists from the Coleoptera Research Center of the University of Mindanao led by Prof. Analyn Cabras and Director Milton Norman Medina.

The Mansaka Weevil measures around 15 millimeters and is characterized by a green, golden yellow or turquoise pattern on its back.

Cabras said the weevil was discovered during a field survey in Maragusan where her team collected several beetle species in the area. Scientists from the Coleoptera Research Center was able to determine it as a new species.

Established by the University of Mindanao with grants from Erasmus and National Geographic, the Coleoptera Research Center is the first beetle facility in the country. The Mansaka Weevil is the first beetle species to be discovered since the establishment of the Coleoptera Research Center.

“In Mindanao there is little entomological collections done so the possibility of discovering new species is very great, we would like to be at the forefront of these discoveries,” Cabras said.

The Mansaka Weevil joins the other new beetle species discovered in Davao Region. Among these include the pachyrhynchus miltori found in Marilog District in Davao City and the metapocyrtus willietorresi discovered in Davao del Sur and is named after the president of the University of Mindanao.

“There are so many beetle species awaiting for discovery, ” Cabras said. There are about 400,000 species of beetles around the world and 8,000 species are found in the country with a chance of doubling it with the discovery of new species.

Cabras said that beetle has numerous functions in the ecosystem such as pollinators, pest control and has role in decomposition. Some beetles are also considered as pests though. One of those considered as pests is the rhinoceros beetle which afflicts coconut trees.

The Mansaka Weevil is described as a pollinator since they move from flower to flower.

Among the threats to the new beetle species are habitat loss as the Mansaka Weevil lives in Compostela Valley which is part of the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor, one of the largest remaining intact forests in the Philippines.

Other threats include poaching as the beetle species is coveted by foreign collectors. (PIA-11)