New Conlephasma Stick Insect discovered in Palawan

     The genus Conlephasma was born and rose to fame when a unique stick insect discovered at Mount Halcon in the island of Mindoro was distinguished as new to science and allocated a new genus. The genus was named after Oskar Conle, an entomologist who discovered the unique stick insect known today as Conlephasma enigma. It is a species of colorful wingless phasmid believed to be ground dwelling and has the ability to release a potent defensive spray from glands located behind its head to deter predators. This unique phasmid species was officially described by Marco Gottardo and Philipp Heller in 2012.

     Many were awed when this unusual finding was released to the public. Many new species of insects from remote locations are described every year, but it’s an unusual case when a genus and a single species was described at the same time. It has drawn massive public attentions, not just in the Philippines, but also from other countries. Some journalists in the country claimed that the Conlephasma enigma is a spectacular stick insect so unique that it does not have any resemblance to any other stick insects around the world and some biologists affirmed that the C. enigma is the only existing stick insect of its kind in the country. Well, Palawan proved them wrong. A new phasmid was found on one of the highest mountain peak in Palawan. Another spectacular, colorful, wingless stick insect. A new phasmid species belonging to the genus Conlephasma.

     This species was found in the mossy forest on a hike with two American biologists I was guiding. I have seen enough stick insects in more than 19 years of mountaineering, but this odd creature creeping on a mossy branch was unlike anything I have seen. The dark greenish-blue thorax and abdomen are banded with yellow and red. The femur and tibia are also dark greenish-blue in color, but the tarsus is dark-red. Its head is the same color as the body, but the eyes and the antennae which are almost two thirds of its body length are dark-red. All wingless stick insects I have seen have spikes, this one though is smooth. All flightless phasmid I know hides from predators during the day and feeds at night. However, this one was found in the open in the middle of a sunny morning, creeping unconcerned on low vegetation growing in the heart of one of Palawan’s most predator-rich mountain ranges.

     None of us on that hike was an expert in phasmids and no one could tell which branch of Phasmatodea this colorful creature belongs to. I was so intrigued that I posted it on Facebook and asked my friends' opinions. Months after that expedition, I met and guided Albert Kang, a known phasmid enthusiast and we talked about it. It was only then that I got a clear idea what kind of stick insect it was. A new undescribed species of the genus Conlephasma.

Conlephasma habitat in Palawan

     Mindoro has one of the country’s top ecosystems. Its amazing biodiversity can hold its place against most diverse islands in the Philippines and the discovery of a new genus proved it. Mindoro has also unique flora and fauna, but I believe that Palawan was not dubbed as the country’s last biodiversity frontier for nothing. It may be that the next discovery of the year is just lurking there somewhere between our rolling foothills and the cloud-covered mountain peaks. It is hiding and blending among the vast jungle of greens as it has been from generations and generations that passed; waiting to be found, waiting to be discovered.