Who love the beetle and hardwood? anthropogenic influence and entomogenesis in Heritiera sylvatica Vidal (Sterculiaceae)

Issue Date

10-2009

Abstract

This exploratory study tells the reconstructed life history of Macrophysis luzona (Fabricius, 1775), along horned beetle associated with an endangered hardwood species - the dungon (Heritiera sylvatica Vidal, Sterculiaceae). A mature dungon tree is killed by human-induced fire in anticipation of the natural tendency of the "tarang-e" or mother beetle to lay her eggs along the bark of flame-severed stand within 6 months. The developing larvae penetrate into the inner phloem and consume the xylary fibers until they reach the pupal stage. Copious amounts of sawdust are also produced and left behind by the larva, consequently clogging the tunnel entrance thus providing protection against predating ants. Four years later the snag is felled. The tunnel stumps and trunks with numerous beetle larvae inside known as "ook" are opened to collect the larvae manually. About 10 tp 20 kilograms of ook can be collected from each tree at Php500 / kilo - thus, a dungon tree is worth Php 5,000 - 10,000 in terms of ook harvest. Ook is a favorite delicacy specially during drinking spree of folks in Southern Batangas. Evidence of population decline of dungon trees was assessed from 1950s up to the present as mainly due to ook culture and domestic lumbering.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

23

Issue

2

Page

180

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

COLEOPTERA; INSECTA; TREES; HARDWOOD; LIFE CYCLE; ANTHROPOGENIC FACTORS

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