Weevils discovered in Philippine rainforest ‘almost like discovering a dodo’

A University of Alberta researcher has discovered two species of weevils – one new and one thought to be extinct – that have managed to survive clear-cutting of the Philippine rainforest.

The findings, published in Topolaare “an encouraging sign” of wildlife’s potential for recovery from human-caused disturbance, says Tom Terzin, a biology professor at the Augustana campus who made the identifications.

“Nature is incredibly resilient, if we give it a chance to recover,” he notes.

He made the discoveries while sifting through samples of beetles collected from bushes in Northern Negros National Park on Negros Island in 2016 and 2017. Located in the central Philippines, the rainforest on the tropical island has was almost entirely wiped out by logging, agriculture and population growth in the late 20th century.

As part of a larger project to uncover how insect life behaved, Terzin, whose undergraduate research lab studies color patterns and mimicry in insects — when one species imitates one another – noticed a short-nosed weevil that stood out not for its pattern, but for its simplicity.

The black insect, about half a centimeter long, did not have the metallic luster of its parents, but a scattering of light scales on its surface that did not form a pattern.

“This guy was a bit strange, a kind of rebel who refused to imitate the species,” notes Terzin.

Called Metapocyrtus (Trachycyrtus) augustanae, the new specimen is named after the Augustana campus, and Terzin is excited about the implications of his discovery.

“This could mean that there is a reorientation of the habits of these species, on an evolutionary level, and the fact that we only know from a single specimen, for the moment, indicates that it is probably a rare species,” he notes.

Discovering this new species was something Terzin had dreamed of since childhood, when he was fascinated by the composition of beetles.

He explains: “They behave like tiny natural robots. They have an exoskeleton and segmented bodies, and they crawl by obeying simple rules. If there is an obstacle in their path, they usually go around it, which is generally the behavior of a robot.”

He is even more excited to rediscover another short-nosed weevil, known as Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) bifoveatus, last seen on the island 100 years ago. Known to live only in the rainforest lowlands, which have been wiped out by deforestation, this colorful insect was thought to be extinct, but this sample was found in a much higher forested area of ​​the island.

“Somehow this species has managed to survive at altitudes above 1,000 meters, showing a struggle for life, and that it has refused to become extinct due to deforestation. the world of insects is almost like discovering a dodo bird,” says Terzin.

Although weevils, which make up the largest family of beetles, are a natural part of the rainforest, it’s important to know that both types exist because they could potentially become pests, especially in the face of climate change, Terzin adds.

“They are like asteroids that cross Earth’s orbit. Some of them can be dangerous, but they are even more dangerous if we don’t know about them. So it’s important to monitor their population, and that means we have to first discover them.”

Both specimens now hold pride of place in the entomological collection of the Augustana Tropical Insects Research Studio, where they are accessible for teaching and research projects.

“They could be useful for studies on ecological recovery, especially in forestry,” says Terzin, who gave the newly discovered insect the name Augustana as a thank you for his previous research trip to the Philippines in 2016 and as a nod to the Camrose campus’ growing emphasis on undergraduate research.

One of the few Western researchers issued a permit to explore the country’s national parks, Terzin hopes to find more new insect species when he returns in 2025. He also says the discovery of the two weevils could encourage the Philippine government to welcome more. international scientists.

He says: “Generally speaking, the country is doing a good job protecting its natural resources, but there are not enough researchers to describe all the biodiversity there. Learning more about it could increase awareness to protect it. It’s a huge world with many wonders and still undescribed species.