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Lewis SM, Jusoh WFA, Walker AC, Fallon CE, Joyce R, Yiu V. Illuminating Firefly Diversity: Trends, Threats and Conservation Strategies. INSECTS 2024; 15:71. [PMID: 38276820 PMCID: PMC10815995 DOI: 10.3390/insects15010071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Fireflies are a diverse group of bioluminescent beetles belonging to the family Lampyridae. Recent research on their diversity, evolution, behavior and conservation has greatly advanced our scientific understanding of these charismatic insects. In this review, we first summarize new discoveries about their taxonomic and ecological diversity, then focus on recent endeavors to identify and protect threatened fireflies around the world. We outline the main threats linked to recent population declines (habitat loss and degradation, light pollution, pesticide overuse, climate change and tourism) and describe relevant risk factors that predict which species will be particularly vulnerable to these threats. Although global coordination of firefly conservation efforts has begun only recently, considerable progress has already been made. We describe work by the IUCN SSC Firefly Specialist Group to identify species currently facing elevated extinction risks and to devise conservation strategies to protect them. To date, IUCN Red List assessments have been completed for 150 firefly taxa, about 20% of which face heightened extinction risks. The conservation status for many species has yet to be determined due to insufficient information, although targeted surveys and community science projects have contributed valuable new data. Finally, we highlight some examples of successful firefly habitat protection and restoration efforts, and we use the framework of the IUCN SSC Species Conservation Cycle to point out high-priority actions for future firefly conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M. Lewis
- IUCN SSC Firefly Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland; (W.F.A.J.); (C.E.F.)
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Wan F. A. Jusoh
- IUCN SSC Firefly Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland; (W.F.A.J.); (C.E.F.)
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Anna C. Walker
- IUCN SSC Firefly Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland; (W.F.A.J.); (C.E.F.)
- New Mexico BioPark Society, Albuquerque, NM 87102, USA
| | - Candace E. Fallon
- IUCN SSC Firefly Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland; (W.F.A.J.); (C.E.F.)
- The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Portland, OR 97232, USA
| | - Richard Joyce
- IUCN SSC Firefly Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland; (W.F.A.J.); (C.E.F.)
- The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Portland, OR 97232, USA
| | - Vor Yiu
- IUCN SSC Firefly Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland; (W.F.A.J.); (C.E.F.)
- Hong Kong Entomological Society, Hong Kong, China
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Fu X, Meyer-Rochow VB, Ballantyne L, Zhu X, Zhang Q. Sperm Competition and Paternity in the Endangered Firefly Pyrocoelia pectoralis (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Lampyrinae). INSECTS 2024; 15:66. [PMID: 38249072 PMCID: PMC10817000 DOI: 10.3390/insects15010066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The endangered terrestrial firefly Pyrocoelia pectoralis (Olivier) is endemic to China. Populations of P. pectoralis have decreased dramatically due to urbanization and pollution. Breeding and re-introduction to a suitable habitat may save the species from becoming extinct. Because of its polyandrous character, an investigation into the possibility of sperm competition and paternity outcomes from multiple matings was initiated to better understand its reproductive physiology. To achieve these goals, 13 SSR markers were developed. The results of paternity experiments indicate there is a significant difference between P3 and P1 or P2. The female reproductive system has three spermathecae which accept sperm from different matings, and no bursa or spermatophore-digesting organ is developed. Our research established that multiple inseminations with sperm from different males occur, leading to competition between ejaculates. The benefits of such competition include an increasing number of sperm in the ejaculates of competing males and the consequential increase in fertilized eggs (thus, fecundity), and thereby a higher chance of genetic diversity and fitness in the offspring of the firefly P. pectoralis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhua Fu
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
- Firefly Conservation Research Centre, Wuhan 430070, China;
| | - Victor Benno Meyer-Rochow
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Oulu University, SF-90140 Oulu, Finland;
- Agricultural Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong National University, Andong 36729, Republic of Korea
| | - Lesley Ballantyne
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, P.O. Box 588, Wagga Wagga 2678, Australia;
| | - Xinlei Zhu
- Firefly Conservation Research Centre, Wuhan 430070, China;
| | - Qiyulu Zhang
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
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Pérez-Hernández CX, Gutiérrez Mancillas AM, del-Val E, Mendoza-Cuenca L. Living on the edge: urban fireflies (Coleoptera, Lampyridae) in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16622. [PMID: 38107586 PMCID: PMC10725667 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Fireflies (Coleoptera, Lampyridae) are a globally threatened group of insects due to habitat loss and fragmentation, light pollution, climate change and pesticides. However, against all odds, some firefly populations persist in urbanized environments where all four of these factors are present simultaneously. In this work, we compiled several data sources to document the diversity of fireflies in the urbanized area of Morelia, characterize their current habitats, and determine the main stressors affecting these bioluminescent insects. We found seven genera and 26 species of fireflies (19 nocturnal, seven diurnal) associated with 32 urban, peri-urban and extra-urban areas; at least, 14 are new records for Michoacán, and the list for the state now includes nine genera and 41 species. Five additional sites were documented as extinction sites. We compared the characteristics of these five sites with those of the sites with extant populations. We found that in Morelia, fireflies are mainly associated with areas that have high to moderate proportions of vegetation cover, are near water bodies, have very gentle to moderate slopes, and are exposed to low levels of light pollution. In contrast, the extinction sites showed high proportions of artificial surfaces and high levels of light pollution. Because some fireflies are considered bioindicators of ecosystem integrity as they are associated to specific habitats, are highly diverse and due to their sensitivity to environmental changes, we consider that sites from Morelia's urban core and extinction sites show the highest levels of environmental degradation, threatening most fireflies and other insects living in the urban core with local extinction. At the same time, our results also suggest that implementing conservation strategies and sustainable planning for the urban development of Morelia in the short term could allow fireflies and other vital elements of the city's insect communities to persist for future generations. Restoration and conservation of green areas and nighttime environments are essential for biodiversity and human health, especially in intra-urban zones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cisteil X. Pérez-Hernández
- IUCN SSC Firefly Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland, Gland, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biology, Behavioral Ecology Laboratory, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
| | | | - Ek del-Val
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
| | - Luis Mendoza-Cuenca
- Faculty of Biology, Behavioral Ecology Laboratory, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
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Flinte V, Pádua DG, Durand EM, Hodgin C, Khattar G, da Silveira LFL, Fernandes DRR, Sääksjärvi IE, Monteiro RF, Macedo MV, Mayhew PJ. Variation in a Darwin Wasp (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) Community along an Elevation Gradient in a Tropical Biodiversity Hotspot: Implications for Ecology and Conservation. INSECTS 2023; 14:861. [PMID: 37999060 PMCID: PMC10671876 DOI: 10.3390/insects14110861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how biodiversity varies from place to place is a fundamental goal of ecology and an important tool for halting biodiversity loss. Parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera) are a diverse and functionally important animal group, but spatial variation in their diversity is poorly understood. We survey a community of parasitic wasps (Ichneumonidae: Pimplinae) using Malaise traps up a mountain in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, and relate the catch to biotic and abiotic habitat characteristics. We find high species richness compared with previous similar studies, with abundance, richness, and diversity peaking at low to intermediate elevation. There is a marked change in community composition with elevation. Habitat factors strongly correlated with elevation also strongly predict changes in the pimpline community, including temperature as well as the density of bamboo, lianas, epiphytes, small trees, and herbs. These results identify several possible surrogates of pimpline communities in tropical forests, which could be used as a tool in conservation. They also contribute to the growing evidence for a typical latitudinal gradient in ichneumonid species richness, and suggest that low to medium elevations in tropical regions will sometimes conserve the greatest number of species locally, but to conserve maximal biodiversity, a wider range of elevations should also be targeted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Flinte
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, C.P. 68020, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil; (V.F.); (G.K.); (L.F.L.d.S.); (R.F.M.); (M.V.M.)
| | - Diego G. Pádua
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus 69067-375, Brazil; (D.G.P.); (D.R.R.F.)
- Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado, Universidad Católica del Maule, Avenida San Miguel, Talca 3605, Chile
| | - Emily M. Durand
- Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK; (E.M.D.); (C.H.)
| | - Caitlin Hodgin
- Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK; (E.M.D.); (C.H.)
| | - Gabriel Khattar
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, C.P. 68020, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil; (V.F.); (G.K.); (L.F.L.d.S.); (R.F.M.); (M.V.M.)
- Laboratory of Community and Quantitative Ecology, Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Luiz Felipe L. da Silveira
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, C.P. 68020, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil; (V.F.); (G.K.); (L.F.L.d.S.); (R.F.M.); (M.V.M.)
- Biology Department, Western Carolina University, 1 University Drive, Cullowhee, NC 28723, USA
| | - Daniell R. R. Fernandes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus 69067-375, Brazil; (D.G.P.); (D.R.R.F.)
| | | | - Ricardo F. Monteiro
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, C.P. 68020, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil; (V.F.); (G.K.); (L.F.L.d.S.); (R.F.M.); (M.V.M.)
| | - Margarete V. Macedo
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, C.P. 68020, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil; (V.F.); (G.K.); (L.F.L.d.S.); (R.F.M.); (M.V.M.)
| | - Peter J. Mayhew
- Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK; (E.M.D.); (C.H.)
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Vaz S, Mendes M, Khattar G, Macedo M, Ronquillo C, Zarzo-Arias A, Hortal J, Silveira L. Firefly (Coleoptera, Lampyridae) species from the Atlantic Forest hotspot, Brazil. Biodivers Data J 2023; 11:e101000. [PMID: 38327309 PMCID: PMC10848419 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.11.e101000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background We compiled a database of firefly species records from the Atlantic Forest hotspot in Brazil and made it available at GBIF. Data were gathered from literature and from several key entomological collections, including: Coleção entomológica Prof. José Alfredo Pinheiro Dutra (DZRJ/UFRJ) and Coleção do Laboratório de Ecologia de Insetos from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (CLEI/UFRJ); Coleção Entomológica do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (CEIOC); Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZSP); Coleção Entomológica Pe. Jesus Santiago Moure from Universidade Federal do Paraná (DZUP/UFPR); and Coleção Entomológica from Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE). This database represents the largest contribution to a public repository of recorded occurrences from Neotropical fireflies. New information This dataset shows the occurrence and abundance of firefly species in the Atlantic Forest hotspot. Firefly species endemic to this biome are also present and considered in the study. These data can assist scientific and societal needs, by supporting future research projects and conservation decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Vaz
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - Mariana Mendes
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - Gabriel Khattar
- Concordia University, Montreal, CanadaConcordia UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - Margarete Macedo
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - Cristina Ronquillo
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, SpainMuseo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - Alejandra Zarzo-Arias
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, SpainMuseo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC)MadridSpain
- Universidad de Oviedo, Asturias, SpainUniversidad de OviedoAsturiasSpain
| | - Joaquín Hortal
- Dept. Biogeography & Global Change, BEI-MNCN-CSIC, Madrid, SpainDept. Biogeography & Global Change, BEI-MNCN-CSICMadridSpain
- Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, BrazilUniversidade Federal de GoiásGoiâniaBrazil
- Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, PortugalFaculdade de Ciências da Universidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal
| | - Luiz Silveira
- Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, United States of AmericaWestern Carolina UniversityCullowheeUnited States of America
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Owens ACS, Van den Broeck M, De Cock R, Lewis SM. Behavioral responses of bioluminescent fireflies to artificial light at night. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.946640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioluminescent insects have been the subject of scientific interest and popular wonder for millennia. But in the 21st century, the fireflies, click beetles, and cave glow-worms that brighten our nights are threatened by an unprecedented competitor: anthropogenic light pollution. Artificial lights can obscure the light-based signals on which these and other bioluminescent organisms rely to court mates, deter predators, and attract prey. In the following review we summarize a recent influx of research into the behavioral consequences of artificial light at night for firefly beetles (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), which we organize into four distinct courtship signaling systems. We conclude by highlighting several opportunities for further research to advance this emerging field and by offering a set of up-to-date lighting recommendations that can help land managers and other stakeholders balance public safety and ecological sustainability.
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