Silliman biologist discovers new butterfly subspecies
Published Jun 27, 2020 12:00 am
By Minerva Newman
DUMAGUETE CITY – A biologist and instructor at the Silliman University (SU) Biology Department discovered a new butterfly subspecies—the Appias phoebe nuydai that could be found in Mt. Talinis, Negros Oriental.
(Photo courtesy of SU-OIP/Melita Aguilar / MANILA BULLETIN)
Dr. Jade Aster Badon said that the Appias phoebe was an endemic butterfly species in the Philippines that can only be found in higher elevations, and Appias phoebe nuydai was a subspecies unique to Mt. Talinis.
Badon named the new butterfly subspecies after Justin Nuyda, a visual artist and lepidopterist. He examined Justin Nuyda's butterfly specimens in Manila.
“This butterfly is important because aside from being endemic to the Philippines, they can only be found at higher elevations, at least 1,500 meters above sea level. This means you must climb to the peak of Mt. Talinis to find this unique butterfly,” Badon added.
It was not known before that this butterfly existed in Mt. Talinis. The discovery proved that the species and a new subspecies exist in Mt. Talinis, and occurrences and distribution of species were very important in the conservation and preservation of remaining important habitats, he explained.
Badon first discovered the butterfly in 2012 during a research expedition at Mt. Talinis. Seven years later in 2019 during the Annual Biodiversity Symposium at the Visayas State University, Badon realized that the specimen he collected was a new subspecies of the Appias phoebe after scanning his copy of “Field Guide to the Butterflies of the Philippines.”
“When I scanned through the pages and ended on that page where the specimens of Appias phoebe were illustrated, I thought that these specimens looked different from the ones I examined in other museums and publications, Badon revealed.
After that, according to Badon he wrote the manuscript and sent it to his co-author from the University of Florida, and then after writing, reviewing, and editing, they submitted it to the German journal for publication, he added.
The entomological journal Nachrichten des Entomologischen Vereins Apollo published the discovery this month, citing Badon and Dr. Jacqueline Y. Miller as authors.
Badon graduated from SU in 2011 with a BS Biology degree. He then completed his master’s and doctorate degree in entomology and nematology at the University of Florida. He is also the president of the Philippine Lepidoptera Butterflies and Moths, Incorporated.
(Photo courtesy of SU-OIP/Melita Aguilar / MANILA BULLETIN)
Dr. Jade Aster Badon said that the Appias phoebe was an endemic butterfly species in the Philippines that can only be found in higher elevations, and Appias phoebe nuydai was a subspecies unique to Mt. Talinis.
Badon named the new butterfly subspecies after Justin Nuyda, a visual artist and lepidopterist. He examined Justin Nuyda's butterfly specimens in Manila.
“This butterfly is important because aside from being endemic to the Philippines, they can only be found at higher elevations, at least 1,500 meters above sea level. This means you must climb to the peak of Mt. Talinis to find this unique butterfly,” Badon added.
It was not known before that this butterfly existed in Mt. Talinis. The discovery proved that the species and a new subspecies exist in Mt. Talinis, and occurrences and distribution of species were very important in the conservation and preservation of remaining important habitats, he explained.
Badon first discovered the butterfly in 2012 during a research expedition at Mt. Talinis. Seven years later in 2019 during the Annual Biodiversity Symposium at the Visayas State University, Badon realized that the specimen he collected was a new subspecies of the Appias phoebe after scanning his copy of “Field Guide to the Butterflies of the Philippines.”
“When I scanned through the pages and ended on that page where the specimens of Appias phoebe were illustrated, I thought that these specimens looked different from the ones I examined in other museums and publications, Badon revealed.
After that, according to Badon he wrote the manuscript and sent it to his co-author from the University of Florida, and then after writing, reviewing, and editing, they submitted it to the German journal for publication, he added.
The entomological journal Nachrichten des Entomologischen Vereins Apollo published the discovery this month, citing Badon and Dr. Jacqueline Y. Miller as authors.
Badon graduated from SU in 2011 with a BS Biology degree. He then completed his master’s and doctorate degree in entomology and nematology at the University of Florida. He is also the president of the Philippine Lepidoptera Butterflies and Moths, Incorporated.