Taxonomy of Insects in San Juan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines

Considered the most diverse animal group on the planet, insects play significant roles in the production of essential seeds, fruits, and vegetables through pollination, decomposition of organic matter, control of populations of other organisms, and provision of food for other taxa, including humans.  This study aimed to conduct a taxonomic study of insects in San Juan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, and classify them as to order family, scientific name, common name, and species richness between the two study areas, Barbar and Immayos Sur. One hundred forty-one (141) adult insects were collected and taxonomically classified employing the latest classification schemes and identification keys from authoritative individuals and databases from credible websites, as well as catalogs, checklists, synopses, and other reliable published references.  Of these 141 specimens, which the researchers purely identified, some still need to be adequately identified, including those fifty-six (56) species identified at the family level, sixty-five (65) valid genera,  and thirty-two (32) species that were marked ‘INDET’ (indeterminable) but were identified at least at the family level.  or tribal level. Twenty-four (24) species are suspected to be new, and a comparison of these with the collections in Natural History Museums is highly recommended for their verification.  A tabulated classification of insects occurring in San Juan, Ilocos Sur is presented. In terms of species richness, there are more insect species in the forests and water ecosystems of Barbar than in Immayos Sur, San Juan, Ilocos Sur.

Keywords: species, order, scientific name, species richness