Volume 24, Issue 73, January - June, 2023

Sphinx moths (Family Sphingidae): Species composition, local status and endemism in Mt. Kitanglad, Intavas, Sumilao, Bukidnon, Philippines

Michelle S Suelo^1♦, Reggie Y Dela Cruz³, Glenda Z Doblas³, Christopher G Batbatan³, Romeo M Tubongbanua³Jr, Cindy Love Cagas², Kent Sean Alan T Dargantes¹, Rona Mae P Viernes¹, Alma B Mohagan³

¹Ph.D. DOST Scholar-on going Central Mindanao University (CMU), University Town, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon 8714 Philippines
²Ms.C. DOST Scholar-on going Central Mindanao University (CMU), University Town, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon 8714 Philippines
³Faculty of the Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Central Mindanao University, University Town, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon 8714 Philippines

^♦Corresponding author
Ph.D. DOST Scholar-on going Central Mindanao University (CMU), University Town, Dologon, Maramag, Bukidnon, Philippines

ABSTRACT

Family sphingidae known as sphinx moths or hakmoths plays a crucial role in the stability of terrestrial ecosystem. Philippines which is known as one of the 17 mega diverse countries comprises 118 species of sphinx moths. This study highlights the species composition, endemism and local status of sphinx moths of Mt. Kitanglad, Philippines. Three sites were employed namely agroecosystem, montane forest and dipterocarp forest. Light trapping technique was used to collect night flying moths. Twenty-two individuals which made up of even species belonging to six genera were recorded. Site 2 (montane forest) has the highest number of individuals collected (63.6%) followed by site 1 (agroecosystem- 27.2%) and site 3 (dipterocarp forest) with only 9.0%. Four species: A socrates, C. decolor, D. hypothous and T. nessus were found to be very rare while the remaining species are categorized as rare. Only one collected species namely Ambulyx staudingeri were found to be endemic in the Philippines.

Keywords: Sphingidae, Mt. Kitanglad, Agroecosystem, Montane Forest, Dipterocarp Forest

Species, 2023, 24(73), e3s1003

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v24i73/e3s1003

Published: 15 January 2023