Annotated list of tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae) in Calanasan, Apayao Province, Luzon, Philippines

Abstract

The forests of Apayao Province are one of the remaining and relatively unexplored areas in the Philippines. With the aim to make Calanasan in Apayao province a UNESCO biosphere reserve as a mechanism in protecting its species, an expedition to document the biodiversity was conducted. This paper presents an annotated list of the 12 species of tiger beetles found in Calanasan. The beetles were mostly collected through opportunistic sampling. In Calanasan, 75% of the tiger beetle species collected are endemic, which shows the high value in preserving this area. Thus, the nomination of Calanasan as a UNESCO biosphere reserve is highly recommended.