A Little Blue Spider Was Just Found in Masungi
In nature, blue is the rarest color to see in flora and fauna. The pigmentation occurs so sparingly in animals, when you see an animal in the wild with such striking feature, it is a treat you may not encounter again in your lifetime.
Forest defenders and conservationists at the Masungi Georeserve captured one of nature’s rarest beauties: A blue-green huntsman spider (Olios sp.)
“Late at night inside the forest, this Green Huntsman Spider goes almost unnoticed as it camouflages in clumps of leaves and branches. While often the subject of the most imaginative horror stories, spiders serve an important purpose in maintaining ecological balance by keeping the insect population in check,” wrote the Masungi Georeserve Foundation in its Facebook post.
Olios is the largest genus of huntsman spiders, with over 177 species documented around the world. They live in tropical regions and warm climates, from the savannahs of Africa to the rainforests in Southeast Asia, making them one of the most successful species of spiders to conquer the world.
But this little blue spider, just like Masungi, is under threat.
Land grabbers and quarrying companies are bent on exploiting the land under the forests of Masungi Georeserve, threatening to destroy the habitat of tens of thousands of plants and animals that seek refuge in this sanctuary.
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Throughout its existence, the reserve has ensured the survival of over 400 species of flora and fauna, protected 60-million-year-old limestone formations, planted 40,000 indigenous trees, and employed over 100 locals who are now helping protect this piece of paradise.
Masungi Georeserve is an internationally awarded conservation project that is just a day trip away from Manila. It is the last protective shield of Metro Manila from flash floods, typhoons, and climate change.
