Possible Pollination Activity of Phaeochrous sp. (Scarabaeoidea) on Amorphophallus sp. (Araceae) in Davao Oriental, the Philippines

Beetles play significant ecological roles, including as floral pollinators. In the Philippines, many Coleoptera species have been introduced as new to science over the recent years. However, their ecological roles are often understudied, leading to an incomplete understanding of beetle diversity and forest ecology. In this paper, a possible pollination activity of a scarab beetle Phaeochrous sp. on a corpse flower Amorphophallus sp. was documented in Caraga, Davao Oriental, the Philippines. This provides a preliminary record of the ecological role of beetles in Philippine terrestrial ecosystems and records the first distribution data of both species in the area. We also characterized the Phaeochrous sp. to serve as a reference for future taxonomic works. There is a need to conduct further research to provide more evidence of the role of Phaeochrous sp. as a pollinator of Amorphophallus sp. and to confirm the species-level identity of both subjects. Conservation policies and strategies also need to be strengthened as the study site is a well-visited tourist destination, thus the potential for increased human disturbance.