Analyn Cabrasisabiologist.Shestudieslivingthings.She’salsoataxonomist.Sheputslivingthingsintocategories.Cabrasisaconservationist.Sheworkstoprotectlivingthings.Andshe’sacoleopterist.Thelivingthingsshestudiesare beetles.

CabrasdoesherresearchinmountainousregionsonthePhilippineisland Mindanao.

ThisbeetleisaboutthesizeofCabras' thumbnail.

Studyingbeetlesisaprettybigfield.Earthishometomorethan400,000 speciesofbeetles.Theyarethelargestgroupofanimalsontheplanet.BeetlescanbefoundoneverycontinentbutAntarctica.Theycanlivewhereit’shotorwhereit’scold,whereit’sdryorwhereit’swet.Somearebarelyvisible.Othersarealmosttoobigtoholdinone hand.

CabrasspendsherdayslookingforbeetlesonMindanao,anislandinthePhilippines.Intherainforests,shesneaksupontiny,iridescentbeetlesfromtheweevil family.


“Youhavetobevery,verycareful,”Cabrassays.Manybeetlesaresensitivetovibrations.“Iftheysenseyoucoming,theyfalltotheground.”Then,they’realmostimpossibletosee.ThisisjustonelessonCabrashaslearnedfromher fieldwork.

Philippines

ASIA

Cabrasusesamagnifyingglasstogetacloserlookata beetle. 

IslandSurprises

Thisislandkeepsherbusybecausesolittleisknownaboutwhatlivesthere.“HereinMindanao,wehavesomanymountains,whicharestillunexplored,”shesays.Cabrasseesherjobasrecordingwhatisthereandlookingathowthebeetlesrelatetoeachotherandthe world.


Sofar,herworkhasbeenfullofsurprises.“Itfeelslikeeverytimewegointothefield,wediscoveratleastonenewspecies.It’skindofmind-blowing.InoneareaofeasternMindanao,wefoundfournewspeciesina1.5-kilometer(less-than-a-mile)stretch,”she says.


Itsoundssimple,butyouhavetoknowwhattolookfor.Andyouhavetobepatient.“Whenyoufirststartfieldresearch,youwillnotfind [anything],” Cabrassays.“Butasyougomoreoftenintothefield,youwillfindsomuch,youwon’tknowwhereto begin!”

KnowYourScientist

Inherworkstudyingbeetles, AnalynCabrasplaysmany roles: 

Biologist:

anexpertonliving organisms

Coleopterist:

apersonwhostudiesorcollects beetles

Conservationist:

apersonwhosupportsoractsfortheprotection of the environment and wildlife

Ecologist:

anexpertintherelationsoforganismstooneanotherandtotheirphysical surroundings

Taxonomist:

abiologistthatnamesandgroupsorganismsinto categories