Nabigyan ng credit ang Filipino-Canadian social media personality na si Mikey Bustos hinggil sa kaniyang nadiskubreng uri ng langgam na wala pang nakakaalam na mayroon pala sa Pilipinas.
Sa kaniyang Facebook post nitong Sabado, Setyembre 9, ibinahagi ni Bustos na natagpuan niya ang ‘Meranoplus Bicolor' ant sa sarili mismo niyang bakuran dalawang taon na ang nakalilipas.
“Two years ago, I found this really cool red and black ant with peach fuzz and spines on its back, that I hadn't ever seen before,” kuwento ni Bustos.
Ipinadala naman daw niya ang specimens nito sa kaniyang myrmecologist na kaibigan na si Dr. Dave General, isang ant taxonomist mula sa University of the Philippines Los Baños.
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“We were both surprised to discover that the species was Meranoplus bicolor, an ant that had not yet been known to exist in the Philippines, where I live,” ani Bustos.
“I was surprised to find out today as I was doing more research on the species, that I've been credited for the geographical scientific discovery of the ant, which I am now raising a colony of, for the Philippines. So cool,” saad pa niya.
Ayon pa kay Bustos, ang kaniyang nadiskubreng langgam ang opisyal na pang-555 ant species na nadokumento sa Pilipinas.
“I went on to name the ant Species # 555 for my AntsCanada channel and it's since been listed as a taxonomic synonym,” saad ng social media personality.
“It's amazing what one might find lurking in our own backyards, if only more people took the time to look. 🐜🔍👀,” dagdag pa niya kasama ang hashtag na #science.
