DISTRIBUTION OF SOME INSECTS OBSERVED IN MOSS CUSHIONS AT CINCHONA FOREST RESERVE,MT. KITANGLAD, LANTAPAN, BUKIDNON, MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES

Abstract

Insects account for about 80 percent of animal life on Earth. Distribution of some insects observed in moss cushions ecosystem was conducted at Cinchona Forest Reserve, Lantapan, and Bukidnon, Philippines. Insects are arthropods that inhabits in moss cushions with their associated bacteria, and fungi which provide nutrients for most fauna. The study aimed to determine insects associated with moss cushions in Cinchona Forest Reserve, Mt. Kitanglad, Lantapan,Bukidnon. The forest has an average elevation of 1,223 meters above sea level. Field sampling through opportunistic survey was employed by recording all the insects observed in moss cushions. Findings revealed a total of 12 families and 21 genera of insects which include the families of Formicidae, Curculionidae, Gryllidae, Blaberidae, Chrysomelidae, Tenebrionidae, Tetrigidae, Cicadelidae, Drosophilidae, Heteropterygidae, Porcellionidae, and Termitidae. Of these, the associated moss families for which insects were observed indicate a total of 7 families, 11 genera, and 18 species.Further, Bryofauna such as insects include organisms that live and eat almost the moss floral species. In tropical regions, numerous moss plant influenced the abundance and distribution of some insects such as the provision of a water refuge to protect from predators. Data suggests some specificity of bryofauna in Cinchona Forest Reserve.