PH scientist “Ipis Lord” reveals the ecological potential of cockroaches

Paul Emerson Herreria

These insects silently crawl in the spaces within a household — discarded by humans. These cockroaches have long been misunderstood as a worthless being yet study proved that even the most overlooked creatures hold significant value in the natural world.

The lone Philippine entomologist from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Christian Lucanas widely known as “Ipis Lord”,  has revealed  the impact of the ecological value of cockroaches in the Philippines.

He emphasized that cockroaches are mostly detritivores, meaning, organisms that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus—decaying plant and animal matter—including their own kind—and return them as nutrients to the soil. He visualized an outcome where a world without cockroaches would slow down the natural process of decomposition significantly because they act as “macro-decomposers” that bridge the gap converting large waste into microscopic decay.

Worldwide, there are currently more than 4,600 discovered species of cockroaches,  many commonly perceived as filthy and disease-bearing. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), these species can act as carriers of harmful bacteria such as disease-spreading microbes like Salmonella and e.coli through contamination to foods that can pose a major threat to human health.

On the other hand, Lucanas pointed out that cockroaches deserve deeper study and credit for their key role in maintaining the balance of the planet’s ecosystem. 

 “For the longest time, no one was studying them, calling it “sad” given the potential size and variety of the impact of these creatures in the archipelagic nation.”

Whereas the Philippines houses about 130 known species, three-fourths of which are endemic found nowhere else on earth, where the possibilities of another 200 local varieties are yet to be discovered. He supports the importance of future scientific research where understanding and documenting these species of cockroach not only contributes to biodiversity but also contributes to the existing knowledge that could strengthen environmental protection initiatives in the Philippines.

He urged the public  that cockroaches are not as indestructible as portrayed. In fact, he further posits that human activities are more of a threat to these creatures due to destruction of their natural habitat and disruption especially in mountain environments leading to the extinction of some important species of cockroaches. Additionally, this disrupts the sustainability of the ecosystems particularly the food chain — like the birds and spiders would lose a key food source, whereas plants would absorb less carbon dioxide, which results in contributing to global warming and potentially causing a chain reaction.

Nonetheless, there are still hundreds of cockroaches yet to be discovered. He laments that most science funding goes to research that directly affects humans, worrying that at best he will only be able to catalog and explain the Philippines’ cockroaches that restrict his work.

However, this 12 years of devoted work on observing a simple cockroach led to a groundbreaking discovery. This serves as a bridge looking beyond the fear and appreciating the biodiversity of the Philippines ecosystem. Cockroaches may seem small and unwanted by others, but they play a huge hidden role in keeping ecosystems alive and balanced. As Lucanas shows, sometimes the most misunderstood creatures are the most important aspect of the wonders of nature.