By Gabriela Baron
Two new species of water scavenger beetles were discovered by researchers from the Ateneo Biodiversity Research Laboratory of the Department of Biology.
The new beetle species were discovered and described by Enrico Gerard Sanchez, his thesis adviser Dr. Emmanuel Delocado, and co-adviser Professor Dr. Hendrik Freitag.
Discovered in Ifugao, the first of the two new species is Anacaena angatbuhay, named after the Angat Buhay anti-poverty program launched during the term of former vice president Leni Robredo.
“The authors said the species is named to honor the program’s outstanding and unparalleled service, especially during the pandemic,” Ateneo said.
“The species’ name is a nod to the countless Filipinos working for and with far-fling communities whose efforts were not widely recognized,” the University added.
Delocado, in a Facebook post, said the species has existed but “remained unnoticed by the world until its publication.”
The second species is named Anacaena auxilium, in honor of Mary Help Christian High School Seminary in Binmaley, Pangasinan, which Sanchez attended during junior high school.
“The study is noteworthy because it was conducted amidst the pandemic using an innovative lab-at-home set-up. These home lab microscopes were acquired with the support of SC Johnson Environmental Leadership Development Fund,” Ateneo noted.
Sanchez previously reaped awards for his undergraduate thesis including the Dean’s Choice Awards at the SOSE Student Research Symposium, Excellence Award for Senior Research Group, and winning first place in the Young Systematic Biologists Forum.
The discovery was published in the international scientific journal ZooKeys. – ngs
