This specie has a depressed head while the body takes on a compressed appearance towards to caudal fin. This fish usually has brown or light brown spots on the side. It ranges from 40 – 50cm.
Place of Origin: This was first introduced in the Philippines by the Philippine Fisheries Commission in 1960. It was believed that the goby was unconsciously part of the Mozambique Tilapia also an IAS.
Distribution: The goby is distributed from tropical and subtropical countries. It can be found on the East Coast of Africa, Southern Asia (e.g. India) and South East Asian countries such as the Philippines. In the Philippines the first recorded white goby to be found is in Lake Mainit, Agusan Del Sur. It can also be found in Lake Lanao in Lanao Del Sur.
Feeding Ecology: The white goby is said to be a carnivorous fish; it will feed on any smaller fish that comes across with it. In Lake Lanao, the white goby is said to have an impact on one of the cyprinid species.
Positive Impact: Although the white goby eat the cyprinids it does not have a large impact on the cyprinids compared to eleotrid which feeds on three endemic cyprinid species.
Negative Impact: The white goby swims in fresh water. In Lake Mainit the fish was found in their fresh water container and this was the farm’s main water stock. The white goby threatens the cyprinids and paleomonid shrimps. This affects the fish production. It is said that cyprinids are able to help total fish production by 9.1% and the goby only helps by 0.9% (Guerrero, 2002).
2. Rice Black Bug (Scotinophara coarctata)
The specie is a sap feeding insect that causes a lot of damage to our rice industry. These bugs prefer marshy and wet land environments. Locally known as the “itim na atangya”. The adult bug is oval-shaped of about 8-9mm long.
Place of Origin: In the Philippines, the first records introduction of the specie was in Palawan in 1972, Bicol and Sorsogon in 2004.
References: Sinohin, V.O. & Cuatermo, W.R. (2002) Special Reports: Country Reports on Invasive Alien Species. ASEAN BIODIVERSITY Retrieved on November 26, 2011 from http://www.arcbc.org.ph/arcbcweb/pdf/vol2no4/30-32_invasive_philippines.pdf Guerrero, R Rice Black Bug (2008) Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture: Phil Rice Los Banos OPAPA Team Retrieved on November 30, 2011 from http://www.openacademy.ph/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=1161 Rice black bug (Last Modified 26 November 2011) PAN Germany OISAT Retrieved December 3, 2011 from http://www.oisat.org/pests/pests__insect_mite/bugs/rice_black_bug/general_information.html "invasive species." Encyclopædia Britannica Guerrero, R.D. (July-September 2005)Department of Science and Technology Post: Fresh Look on the “Janitor Fish”. Retrieved on December 6, 2011 from http://sntpost.stii.dost.gov.ph/frames/JultoSept05/Fresh%20look%20on%20the_janitor%20fish_pg33a.htm