𝙉𝙚𝙤𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝙣𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 (𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒)

When people think of protected wildlife, the first images that usually come to mind are the Philippine eagle, the turtles, and other exotic animals. But what if those tiny little creatures like spiders that often go unnoticed are also included in the list of protected species?

The Brown Sailor Spider, scientifically known as 𝘕𝘦𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢, is one of the many spiders found in the Philippines. This spider is an orb-weaving species that belongs to the Araneidae family. Locally known as “Fighting bangkaw,” or “gagambang bahay,” the Brown Sailor Spider can be found in tropical regions, including Southeast Asia.

With its nocturnal behavior, the Neoscana nautica is often sighted in a spider web, especially inside houses, and is common in urban areas. This species prefers to hide during the day and actively construct webs at night. They prey on soft-bodied and actively flying insects like adults of rice moths, house flies, mosquitoes, and other smaller insects entangled in their web.

The Brown Sailor Spider, along with other spider species, has been considered an important predator. They play a significant role in regulating mosquito and other insect populations. The prevalence of spiders has been used to indicate the health of the environment.

However, this species has been facing several threats, like habitat loss, illegal pet trade, and light pollution. In the Philippines, spiders have been used in spider brawling/fighting. In a study conducted in 2016, it was cited that a particular group of spiders is fondly collected by children and used as game animals, and these are called derby spiders. Due to activities like this, the population and ecosystem of spiders are at high risk of decline and destruction. In fact, in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) List of Threatened Fauna in 2019, the Brown Sailor Spider was listed under the conservation status of “Other Threatened Species.” This category refers to species that are not critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable but are under threat from adverse factors, such as overcollection throughout their range. These species may be listed as threatened upon recommendation of the Philippine Red List Committee for Wild Fauna and endorsement of the National Wildlife Management Committee.

In a world teeming with life, every species, no matter how small, plays a crucial role. And yes, even spiders are part of the world’s protected wildlife.