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Philippines' 'Cockroach Lord' Goes to Bat for Misunderstood Bugs
Lucanas warns human activity threatens over 130 Philippine cockroach species vital for decomposition and ecosystems; he has discovered 15 species and suspects 200 more remain undocumented.
- In Los Baños, Cristian Lucanas, 31-year-old University of the Philippines entomologist, says cockroaches deserve more study and credit for their role as detritivores in ecosystems.
- About 12 years ago, Lucanas's interest began on a bat cave field trip where his adviser could not identify a specimen, leading him to see a scientific niche.
- Known as 'Ipis Lord', Lucanas has discovered about 15 species and curates a museum with 250,000 preserved insect specimens.
- Human activity threatens cockroach species, with slow-reproducing mountain species at risk and several cave-dwelling Philippine species not seen since tourism began, endangering birds, spiders, and plants.
- With limited funding, he laments most science research 'goes to research that will directly affect humans' while the country's biggest bug-spray firm invited him to lecture and a top restaurant chain sought his advice on invasive German cockroaches.
44 Articles
44 Articles
InsideNoVA.com
Philippines' 'Cockroach Lord' goes to bat for misunderstood bugs
A thin band of light from Cristian Lucanas's headlamp pierces the blackness of a Philippine rainforest as he digs through the underbrush before gently scooping up a cockroach with his bare hands.
Philippines' 'Ipis Lord' goes to bat for misunderstood bugs
While fully aware most view cockroaches as disgusting, disease-bearing pests, the 31-year-old University of the Philippines entomologist says they deserve more study — and credit — for their key role in the planet's ecosystem.
Meet the Philippines' 'Cockroach Lord' standing up for little-loved bugs
A rare cockroach expert who names new species after Tolkien's fictional creatures, Philippines scientist Christian Lucanas says the disease-bearing bugs deserve more study – and credit – for the crucial role they play in preserving the planet's ecosystem.
A thin strip of light from the front lantern of Cristian Lucanas crosses the darkness of the Philippine rainforest as this scientist digs through the weeds to carefully pick up a cockroach.As the only expert of the Southeast Asian country in this insect so often misunderstood, and discoverer of 15 species, his friends nickname him "Lord of Ipis", by the local name of the creature that abounds everywhere.Although he is fully aware that the majori…
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