Pictures of Sites # 11

Mount Pico de Loro / Mount Palay-Palay > Maragondon Mountains > Cavite Province > South-West Luzon.

My very first time to go to that area of Luzon, was surprised how beautiful those Maragondon Mountains are looking...! By the way it is a National Park under the DENR administration, nicely preserved and managed I must say.
So, Mt Pico de Loro is about 4 hours walk from the main road and 664masl. trail quite easy going except for the last uphill portion which is medium steep and long going. Looking for Phasmids we did find just 3 species, scionecra (the same green species as from Mt Tapulao), clitumnus and unidentified - probably Asceles (?).



















Side hills we're passing by before reaching Mt Pico de Loro




































Trail up to Mt Pico de Loro












































































A view from the top to the lower hills and plains below, far on the horizon the South China Sea




















My first time to produce a video on my blog, gives a more "live feeling", the sounds of the, no kidding, thousands od Cicadas in the area

Pictures of Sites # 10

MOUNT DARAITAN > Barangay Daraitan, Tanay > Rizal Province.

Here we are, Mount Daraitan, 750masl at front the "mighty" Daraitan River (mighty only during raining season). Probably the most nice place I have been so far with Mt Palakong and QNP ! Unfortunately concerning Phasmids nothing in common with the other two sites mentionned, our collecting time was poor, just 3 species and all common ones......damage !






























































































Trail along Daraitan River, going arround Mount Daraitan










































































































Back side of Mount Daraitan, we just left Daraitan River curving left downhill















































Trail uphill, was checked going down, at night, for Phasmids


















































Deep inside the Sierra Madre Mountains, about 1 hour from night fall. Start point of collecting, then all the way downhill to the Daraitan River

NECROSCIINAE SP "TAPULAO 2"

My second Necrosciinae (temporary genus) species found on Mount Tapulao, after the green one I found last year there (and again this time).
This species is the phasmid I found at the highest altitude so far > about 1500masl.
Nice species, I found 2 weeks ago, with nice pinky wings, feeding here on Guanabano (Sour soup common name), in Europe on many kinds of Hypericums.
Very elegant phasmid.

ASYSTATA SP "MASINLOC"

Found that new asystata 3 weeks ago on my first trip to Mount Masinloc-Zambales-West Luzon
My 6th finding of that genus :))
Like all other species they feed problemless on Guava (Psidium gujava)