DOST-MIMAROPA to hold 2025 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week in Occidental Mindoro

Photo: DOST-STII The Department of Science and Technology–MIMAROPA (DOST-MIMAROPA) is set to hold the 2025 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) on May 28– 30, 2025, at Occidental Mindoro State College (OMSC) in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. With the theme “Siyensya, Teknolohiya, at Inobasyon: Kabalikat sa Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na Kinabukasan,” ...

May 1, 2025 | 2 mins read

𝘗𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢 𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘪: a new species of leaf beetle from the Philippines (2024)

Podontia rustiai. (Photo: Orlando Calcetas & Charles Staines) Announced in July 2024, the description of a new species of leaf beetle (or flea beetle) from the Philippines was published in the Philippine Journal of Science. Podontia rustiai 𝘗. 𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘪 is similar in appearance to 𝘗. 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘢 from Borneo, but with key differences in the structures ...

November 2, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘈𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴: a new species of springtail from the Philippines (2024)

Alloscopus arborealis. (Photo: Alviola, et al via Zootaxa) In January 2024, the description of a new species of springtail from the Philippines was published in Zootaxa. 𝘼𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙪𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨 Distribution/habitat: Mt. Makiling (Luzon, Philippines) About the species: As entomologist Dr. Aimee Lynn Barrion-Dupo wrote in a Facebook post: “Springtails are soft-bodied arthropods with ...

October 29, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘕𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘭𝘪: a new species of pitcher plant from the Philippines (2024)

Nepenthes kampalili. (Photo: Noel E. Lagunday) In April 2024, the description of a new species of pitcher plant from the Philippines (based on a specimen collected in August 2021) was published in Phytotaxa. 𝙉𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙠𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙡𝙞 Distribution/habitat: Mt. Kampalili (Mindanao, Philippines) About the species: Named after the place where it was discovered, 𝘕. 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘭𝘪 grows solely ...

October 28, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴: a new rodent species from the Philippines (2024)

Tarsomys orientalis. (Image: Velizar Simeonovski) In May 2024, the Philippine Eagle Foundation announced the description of a new rodent species from the Philippines (based on a specimen collected in May 2007), which was published in the Journal of Mammalogy. Tarsomys orientalis (Kampalili moss mouse) Distribution/habitat: Mt. Kampalili (Mindanao, Philippines) Endemic: Yes ...

October 16, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘣𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘮 𝘣𝘰𝘬𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦: a new plant species from the Philippines (2024)

Bulbophyllum bokodense. (Photo: Liezel M. Magtoto) In August 2024, the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative announced the description of a new species of orchid (based on a specimen collected in July 2021) from the Philippines, which was published in Phytotaxa. 𝘽𝙪𝙡𝙗𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙡𝙡𝙪𝙢 𝙗𝙤𝙠𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 Distribution/habitat: Mossy forest areas of Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse, Upper Agno River Basin Resource ...

October 14, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘝𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘹, 𝘝. 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘺, and 𝘝. 𝘷𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘮: 3 new blueberry species from the Philippines (2024)

Vaccinium fallax, V. gamay, and V. vomicum. (Photos: Peter W. Fritsch; John Rey Callado; Maverick N. Tamayo) In May 2024, the Asian Blueberry Project announced the description of 3 new blueberry (Vaccinium) species from the Philippines, which were published in Phytotaxa. 𝙑𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙪𝙢 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙭 Distribution/habitat: Mt. Apo Natural Park (MANP), Mindanao Island Endemic: Yes ...

October 12, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘝𝘪𝘯𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘪 𝘤𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘦 and 𝘝. 𝘺𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘦: 2 new insect species from the Philippines (2024)

Vinpietri cahatianae and Vinpietri yapae. (Photos: Laurent Fauvre) In March 2024, descriptions of two new insect species from the Philippines, as well as the proposal of a new genus, were published in Annales Zoologici. New Genus - 𝙑𝙞𝙣𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙞 The newly named genus 𝘝𝘪𝘯𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘪 belongs to the hemipteran family Cercopidae, which includes the insects ...

October 10, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘗𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴: a new plant species from the Philippines (2024)

Psychotria pendens. (Photo: Raab Bustamante) In May 2024, the description of a new species of flowering plant from the Philippines was published in Phytotaxa. 𝙋𝙨𝙮𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙨 Distribution/habitat: Mt. Victoria, Palawan (all samples collected January 2022) Endemic: Unspecified (but likely/possible) Distinctive traits: This evergreen shrub or small tree grows 1 to 4 m high, coexisting ...

October 8, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘌𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘵𝘩𝘺𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴: a new fish species from the Philippines (2024)

Emmelichthys papillatus (Papillated redbait (English); Rebentador pula (Tagalog)). Photo: Kagoshima University Museum In March 2024, the description of a new species of fish from the Philippines was published in ZooKeys. 𝘽𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙨 Distribution/habitat: Likely the Visayas region of the Philippines (holotype purchased in 2016 from Panay; paratypes purchased in 2013 from Cebu) Endemic: Unspecified; ...

October 6, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘗𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘮𝘢 𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘪 and 𝘗. 𝘮𝘢𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪: 2 new insect species from the Philippines (2024)

Phantagma garciai and P. maarati. (Photos: Laurent Fauvre - P. garciai; Maxime Le Cesne - P. maarati) In March 2024, descriptions of two new insect species from the Philippines, as well as the proposal of a new genus, were published in Annales Zoologici. New Genus - 𝙋𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙢𝙖 The newly named genus 𝘗𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘮𝘢 belongs ...

October 4, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘉𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘶𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴: a new plant species from the Philippines (2024)

Begonia tanauanensis. (Photo: Danilo N. Tandang) In March 2024, the description of a new species of flowering plant from the Philippines was published in Phytotaxa. 𝘽𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙨 Distribution/habitat: Tanauan City, Batangas, southern Luzon, Philippines Endemic: Yes Distinctive traits: 𝘉. 𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘶𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 has a few similarities with a 𝘉𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 species from eastern Luzon, 𝘉. 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘪. Both plants have light ...

October 2, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘴 (𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘴) 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘦 and 𝘔. (𝘛.) 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴: 2 new cave beetle species from the Philippines (2024)

Metabacetus (Trogloabacetus) baltazarae and M. (T.) desideratus. (Photos: Milton Norman Medina & Alexander Anichtchenko) In March 2024, descriptions of two new cave beetle species from the Philippines and a new subgenus were published in Zootaxa. New Subgenus - 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙨 (under 𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘴) The researchers describe 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘴 beetles as a “transitional form” of sorts between the ...

September 30, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘺𝘢 and 𝘒. 𝘥𝘪𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘢: 2 new cave beetle species from the Philippines (2024)

Kweba magbabaya and Kweba diwata. (Photos: Milton Norman Medina & Alexander Anichtchenko) In March 2024, descriptions of two new cave beetle species from the Philippines, as well as the proposal of a new genus, were published in Zootaxa. New Genus - 𝙆𝙬𝙚𝙗𝙖 Beetles under the new genus 𝘒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝘢 are similar in appearance to ...

September 28, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘉𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘢𝘣𝘩𝘢𝘬: a new plant species from the Philippines (2024)

Begonia matahom. (Photos: Freddie A. Blasco, Grecebio Jonathan D. Alejandro, Danilo N. Tandang, and Rosario R. Rubite) In March 2024, the description of a new species of flowering plant from the Philippines was published in Webbia: Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography. 𝘽𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝙖𝙗𝙝𝙖𝙠 Distribution/habitat: Lanuza, Surigao del Sur, Philippines Endemic: Yes ...

September 26, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘈𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘦: a new plant species from the Philippines (2024)

Argostemma mirae. (Photos: Freddie Blasco, Grecebio Jonathan Alejandro, and Danilo Tandang) In March 2024, the description of a new species of flowering plant from the Philippines was published in Phytotaxa. 𝘼𝙧𝙜𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙢𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙚 Distribution/habitat: Mindanao (Tago, Surigao del Sur) Endemic: Yes Distinctive traits: 𝘈. 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘦 resembles 𝘈. 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘮 in having branching and pubescent stems, oblanceolate leaves, pubescent ...

September 24, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘚𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘪𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘢: a new tropical kiwi species from the Philippines (2024)

Saurauia decolorata. Photos: Darin Penneys (L), Shiella Mae Olimpos (R) In July 2024, the description of a new species of tropical kiwi from the Philippines was published in Phytotaxa. 𝙎𝙖𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙪𝙞𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙖 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻/𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁: Mt. Pantaron Range, Bukidnon, and Mt. Balatukan Natural Park, Misamis Oriental 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘁𝘀: 𝘚. 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘢 shares certain characteristics with two other endemic 𝘚𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘪𝘢 species. Like 𝘚. 𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘢 and 𝘚. 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘴, the ...

September 23, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘉𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘩𝘰𝘮: a new plant species from the Philippines (2024)

Begonia matahom. (Photos: Freddie A. Blasco, Grecebio Jonathan D. Alejandro, Danilo N. Tandang, and Rosario R. Rubite via Taiwania) In March 2024, the description of a new species of flowering plant from the Philippines was published in Taiwania: International Journal of Biodiversity. 𝘽𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙝𝙤𝙢 Distribution/habitat: Mt. Tingtingan, Sitio Tingtingan, Badong, Tago, Surigao ...

September 22, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘉𝘪𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘴: a new longhorn beetle species from the Philippines (2024)

Bityle oriens. (Photos: Milton Norman Medina, Amy Ponce, and Jhonnel Villegas) In February 2024, the description of a new longhorn beetle species from the Philippines was published in the Philippine Journal of Science. 𝘽𝙞𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙨 Distribution/habitat: Mindanao (Municipality of Boston, Davao Oriental) Endemic: Possible/likely, as Philippine Cerambycidae (long-horned) species are “mostly ...

September 21, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘚𝘺𝘻𝘺𝘨𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘤𝘳𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘮: a new tree species from the Philippines (2024)

Syzygium crystalliferum. (Photos: Leonardo C. Udasco Jr. - leaves, flowers, tree; Jayson Mansibang - fruit) In February 2024, the description of a new tree species from the Philippines was published in the Nordic Journal of Botany. 𝙎𝙮𝙯𝙮𝙜𝙞𝙪𝙢 𝙘𝙧𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙪𝙢 Distribution/habitat: Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, Luzon (specimens collected in 2021) Endemic: Unknown/unconfirmed; known only from ...

September 19, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘊𝘰𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴: a new wasp species from the Philippines (2024)

Coeleumenes rusticanus. (Photo: Marco Selis via Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Venezia, Italy) In February 2024, the description of a new potter wasp species from the Philippines was published in Zootaxa. 𝘾𝙤𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙪𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙨 Distribution/habitat: Mindanao (Davao, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur) Endemic: Possible Distinctive traits: 𝘊. 𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 sports a black and ochre pattern ...

September 17, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘺𝘭𝘢 𝘫𝘰𝘩𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘪: a new tiger beetle species from the Philippines (2024)

Tricondyla johnsoni. (Photo: Alexander Anichtchenko & Jürgen Wiesner) In January 2024, the description of a new tiger beetle species from the Philippines was published in Zootaxa. 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙮𝙡𝙖 𝙟𝙤𝙝𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙞 Distribution/habitat: Mindanao (Davao, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Oriental); specimens obtained in 2019 Endemic: Possible Distinctive traits: 𝘛. 𝘫𝘰𝘩𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘪 resembles another tiger beetle species found ...

September 15, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘩𝘪: a new sea star species from the Philippines (2024)

Churaumiastra hoshi. (Photos: Oliver Gomez and Christopher Mah) In January 2024, the description of a new sea star species from the Philippines was published in Zootaxa. 𝘾𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙪𝙢𝙞𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙝𝙞 Distribution/habitat: Philippines (Balut Island and Aliguay Island, Mindanao); Japan (Okinawa Island); Australia (Ashmore Reef) Endemic: No Distinctive traits: 𝘊. 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘩𝘪 is an “extremely rare” species of ...

September 8, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘖𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘪𝘻𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘢: a new plant species from the Philippines (2024)

Ophiorrhiza ravifolia. (Photos: Mark Arcebal K. Naive) In January 2024, the description of a new plant species from the Philippines was published in the Nordic Journal of Botany. 𝙊𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙝𝙞𝙯𝙖 𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙖 Distribution/habitat: Naga-Kabasalan Protected Landscape, Zamboanga Sibugay (discovered in June 2023) Endemic: Yes Distinctive traits: 𝘖. 𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘢 has strong physical similarities to two other 𝘖𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘪𝘻𝘢 species, 𝘖. 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴 and 𝘖. 𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘢 (...

September 6, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘌𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘺𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘹𝘪 and 𝘌𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘺𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘪: 2 new weevil species from the Philippines (2024)

Eumacrocyrtus robertfoxi and Enoplocyrtus angelalcalai. (Photos: Analyn A. Cabras) In February 2024, descriptions of two new weevil species from the Philippines were published in ZooKeys. 𝙀𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙮𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙨 𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙛𝙤𝙭𝙞 Distribution/habitat: Zambales, Luzon Island (holotype discovered in 1947) Endemic: Yes Distinctive traits: With a body length of 13.5 mm (close to the average size of a fingernail), 𝘌. 𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘹𝘪 ...

September 4, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘣𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘮 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘦 and 𝘉. 𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪: 2 new orchid species from the Philippines (2024)

Bulbophyllum barcelonae and B. pelseri. (Photos: Jayson Mansibang, John Paul Collantes, Raab Bustamante, and Leonardo Udasco) In January 2024, the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative announced the publication of two new species descriptions from the Philippines in the Nordic Journal of Botany. 𝘽𝙪𝙡𝙗𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙡𝙡𝙪𝙢 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙚 Distribution/habitat: Mossy forest areas of the Pantabangan–Carranglan Watershed Forest ...

September 2, 2024 | 2 mins read

Youth solutions on PWD accessibility, smart farming, & sustainability spotlighted at DOST-SEI innovation competition

Participants from Bansud National High School – Regional Science High School for MIMAROPA present their award-winning project “AQUASTELLAR: Development of an Alternative and Low-Cost Portable Lamp Using Various Electrolytes Derivative Solutions” to the 7th imake.wemake’s board of judges. Photo: Imake.wemake: create innovate collaborate Facebook page To further promote ...

August 5, 2024 | 4 mins read

PhilSA provides SSTA learning kits to public schools, capacitates educators to integrate space science activities

Photo: PhilSA (Press release from the Philippine Space Agency) The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) turned over space science and technology applications (SSTA) learning kits to public schools and trained educators on equipment usage and integration into learning activities. Three (3) deployments were conducted in Quezon Province, Tarlac City, and the National ...

June 3, 2024 | 3 mins read

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