When we see a cockroach, our prejudices against “creepy crawlies” almost always get in the way – but not if Christian Lucanas can help it. The entomologist from the University of the Philippines – Los Baños specializes in these misunderstood creatures, and reminds us of their importance.
Lucanas started his obsession with the species 12 years ago. While on a field trip to a bat cave on a remote island, he found an infestation of cockroaches feasting on guano, a nutrient-rich, accumulated excrement of seabirds, bats, or seals, acting as a highly effective organic fertilizer due to high nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium content. When his biology adviser failed to identify the species, Lucanas knew that he had found something of interest.
His fascination with cockroaches grew, increasing his drive to preserve the insects, given that they are mostly affected by human interests, usually through extermination and de-infestation. Now, Lucanas is known as one of the lone experts on the insect, already discovering 15 species across his years of study, all of which now belong to the insect family with 4,600 known species.
According to Lucanas’ research, cockroaches play a vital role in ecosystems by breaking down dead organic matter and supporting food webs. As detritivores, they decompose detritus and return nutrients to the soil. Aside from being a food source for birds and spiders, without cockroaches, decomposition would slow, ecosystems would suffer, and plants would absorb less carbon dioxide.
His one true calling, as he says, is to help identify and catalog them, making them identifiable to society as best as he could contribute. With this, he sought to stick with his work and continue to enjoy the least he could do to save the cockroaches from their misconception in society.
Learn more about Mr. Lucanas’s works on bugs and insects in his catalogue here.