Diversity of Order Phasmatodea: Stick and Leaf insects with its Plant Associates in Selected Mountain Ecosystems of Mindanao, Philippines

Abstract

The Order Phasmatodea is under class Insecta in which these species are phantom or spectre due to the majority of species are able to camouflage itself to the environment as sticks and leaves. Their characteristics to mimic the color, size, shape and variation of leaves and sticks makes them invulnerable to be seen by its predators.  The study provides the determination of species abundance and richness of stick insects and leaf insects and its plant associates of the three selected mountain ecosystems of Mindanao, Philippines. The data that was gathered from the study provides information towards the status and conservation of stick insects and leaf insects. Repeated transected walk, opportunistic method and hand-picking were the techniques and methods that was used during the conduction of the three-day collection in the months of May and August 2022 in the three selected mountain ecosystem of Mindanao. A total of 35 individuals under four subfamily and five species was determined and seven plant associates was identified. The Euobrimus sp. was the most abundant species among the order Phasmatodea. Mt. Balatukan and Mt. Sumagaya has the higher number of species richness. For the diversity index, all three sites show a low diversity having a result lower than 0.5 index to which it shows that these species are thriving but are being disturbed by manmade activities. Towards its conservation status, the species falls under the criteria of Not Evaluated that means further study are still needed to be conducted. Longer duration and a larger area should be considered in future studies.