Pteroptyx

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Pteroptyx
Pteroptyx valida (Olivier, 1909) Lightning Bug 14 mm Lampyridae (20754785916).jpg
Pteroptyx valida in Chaiyaphum, Thailand
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Lampyridae
Subfamily: Luciolinae
Genus: Pteroptyx
Olivier, 1902
Type species
Pteroptyx testacea
(Motschulsky, 1854)
Species

See text

Pteroptyx is a genus of fireflies in the subfamily Luciolinae found in Southeast Asia. It has long been noted for the ability to perform synchronous flashing, though not all species synchronize. [1] These synchronizing species have been found on so-called 'firefly trees' and created a growing firefly-watching tour industry in some regions. Species of the genus have been identified in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Hong Kong. [2]

Contents

Identification

The genus Pteroptyx was first proposed by Ernest Olivier in 1902 for Luciola -like species. He identified two species, Luciola malaccae and Luciola testacea, which were later reassigned to the Pteroptyx genus. Three subsequent species, P. tener, P. bearni, and P. valida were described by Olivier between 1907 and 1909. [3] Much of the work revising the genera within Luciolinae has been done by Australian entomologist Lesley Ballantyne, beginning in 1970. [4]

The genus was originally defined based on characteristics of adult males: deflexed elytral apex, trisinuate ventrite 7, and a metafemoral comb. However some of the recently assigned species do not have either the deflexed elytral apex or the metafemoral comb. Developments in molecular sequencing techniques have improved the ability of entomologists to identify and delineate new species based on only female or larval specimens that were not collected in association with males. Jusoh et al. (2014) used these techniques to propose a new species, P. balingiana, as distinct from P. malaccae, but it has not been widely accepted. [5] [6]

Ecology

The males of two species, P. malaccae and P. tener, are often found in large groups on certain trees and perform synchronized flashing displays to attract females for mating. The first report of these synchronous displays was recorded in Thailand over a century ago, although the number of fireflies have decreased, likely due to the reduction of the necessary mangrove forests due to urbanization and shrimp farming in Thailand. Pollution and habitat loss have resulted in the loss of nearly all Pteroptyx populations from the area around Bangkok. [1]

Many of the species examined by Jusoh et al. in 2018 using genetic sequencing of the mitochondrial DNA were associated with mangroves, as their larva need a continuously damp environment to develop. [7] As a result, many of the species in the genus are at risk of habitat loss due to damage of mangroves as a result of rising sea levels from climate change.

Human interaction

Boat tours for observing the congregating, synchronous flashing of Pteroptyx species are popular in the Sundaic region of southern Thailand and Malaysia. This form of ecotourism has been used to stress the importance of mangrove protection and preservation, as many of the tour operators are local fishermen earning supplemental income. [8]

Species

As described by Ballantyne & Lambkin in 2015, there are 17 known species in Pteroptyx.

Related Research Articles

<i>Luciola</i> Genus of beetles

Luciola is a genus of flashing fireflies in the family Lampyridae. They are especially well known from Japan and are often called Japanese fireflies, but their members range farther into Asia and reach southern Europe and Africa. This genus is traditionally held to extend to Australia, but these species do not seem to belong herein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luciolinae</span> Subfamily of beetles

The Luciolinae are among the largest subfamilies of fireflies (Lampyridae). They seem to be all "flashing" fireflies. They are a diverse lineage, spreading throughout the warm parts of Eurasia into temperate Europe and East Asia and south to the Australian region.

Atyphella is a genus of 'flashing' firefly found in the Australasian region, particularly in the eastern and northern regions of Australia. The genus consists of 23 recognized species, 14 considered to be endemic to Australia.

Inflata is a genus of 'flashing' firefly found in Thailand, containing a single recognized species, Inflata indica.

<i>Entimus</i> Genus of beetles

Entimus is a genus of broad-nosed weevils belonging to the family true weevil and the Entiminae subfamily.

Atyphella dalmatia is a species of firefly in the genus Atyphella. It was discovered in 2009.

<i>Nipponoluciola cruciata</i> Species of beetle

Nipponoluciola cruciata, known as "genji-botaru" (ゲンジボタル) in Japanese, is a species of firefly found in Japan. Its habitat is small ditches and streams, and its larvae are aquatic. It was formerly known as Luciola cruciata but was revised taxonomically in 2022.

Aquatica ficta is a species of firefly found in Taiwan and parts of China. It was formerly placed in the genus Luciola. Its habitat is still water, and the larvae are aquatic.

Aquatica is a genus of fireflies in the subfamily Luciolinae. The species are found in China, Taiwan, Japan, Russia and Korea. Fu, Ballantyne and Lambkin erected the genus in 2010, using phylogenetic, morphological and behavioural evidence. Its type species is Aquatica wuhana. It contains five species:

Aquatica hydrophila is a species of firefly found in Taiwan. Described in 2003, it was formerly placed in the genus Luciola. The larvae are aquatic and live in ditches and small streams.

<i>Aquatica lateralis</i> Species of insect of the genus Luciola

Aquatica lateralis, known as "heike-botaru" (ヘイケボタル) in Japanese, is a species of firefly found in Russia, Japan and Korea. It was formerly placed in the genus Luciola. The larvae are aquatic and live in rice paddies.

Photuris fairchildi is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.This species is known to use aggressive mimicry in order to lure in and prey upon the males of other species of fireflies. This species inhabits marshes, spruce forests, and other low-lying swampy areas.

Abscondita chinensis, is a species of firefly beetle found in India, China and Sri Lanka.

Abscondita promelaena is a species of firefly beetle found in India and Sri Lanka.

<i>Asymmetricata humeralis</i> Species of beetle

Asymmetricata humeralis is a species of firefly found in India and Sri Lanka.

Luciola candezei, is a species of firefly beetle found in Sri Lanka.

Luciola intricata, is a species of firefly beetle found in Sri Lanka.

Luciola antennalis, is a species of firefly beetle found in Sri Lanka.

<i>Abscondita</i> Genus of beetles

Abscondita is a genus of fireflies in tropical Asia. Species in the genus were earlier placed in the genus Luciola but molecular phylogeny studies support their separation.

<i>Asymmetricata</i> Genus of beetles


Asymmetricata is a genus of fireflies found in tropical Asia. Species in the genus were formerly included in the genus Luciola. The genus was created in 2009 by Lesley Ballantyne who noted the asymmetric 8th abdominal tergite, emarginated on its left, as a shared feature. Adults of both males and females are winged. The larvae have been reliably described only in A. circumdata. They are terrestrial carnivores, feeding on snails and earthworms in moist soil below tree cover. The last abdominal segment bears an anchoring structure or pygopod with 58 or more pygopodia arising from it.

References

  1. 1 2 Sartsanga, Channarong; Swatdipong, Akarapong; Sriboonlert, Ajaraporn (23 March 2018). "Distribution of the Firefly Genus Pteroptyx Olivier and a New Record of Pteroptyx asymmetria Ballantyne (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae) in Thailand". The Coleopterists Bulletin. 72 (1): 171–183. doi:10.1649/0010-065X-72.1.171. ISSN   0010-065X. S2CID   90806682.
  2. ↑ Ballantyne, Lesley; Fu, Xin Hua; Shih, Chun-Hat; Cheng, Chui-Yu; Yiu, Vor (27 June 2011). "Pteroptyx maipo Ballantyne, a new species of bent-winged firefly (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) from Hong Kong, and its relevance to firefly biology and conservation". Zootaxa. 2931 (1): 8–34–8–34. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2931.1.2. ISSN   1175-5334.
  3. ↑ Ballantyne, Lesley A.; McLean, Miriam R. (1970). "Revisional Studies on the Firefly Genus Pteroptyx Olivier (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae: Luciolini)". Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 96 (2): 223–305. ISSN   0002-8320. JSTOR   25077994.
  4. ↑ Ballantyne, Lesley; Lambkin, Christine L.; Boontop, Yuvarin; Jusoh, Wan F. A. (20 May 2015). "Revisional studies on the Luciolinae fireflies of Asia (Coleoptera: Lampyridae): 1. The genus Pyrophanes Olivier with two new species. 2. Four new species of Pteroptyx Olivier and 3. A new genus Inflata Boontop, with redescription of Luciola indica (Motsch.) as Inflata indica comb. nov". Zootaxa. 3959: 1–84. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3959.1.1. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   26249372.
  5. ↑ Jusoh, Wan F. A.; Hashim, Nor Rasidah; Sääksjärvi, Ilari E.; Adam, Nur Azura; Wahlberg, Niklas (December 2014). "Species Delineation of Malaysian Mangrove Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) using DNA Barcodes". The Coleopterists Bulletin. 68 (4): 703–711. doi:10.1649/0010-065X-68.4.703. ISSN   0010-065X. S2CID   86004352.
  6. ↑ Jusoh, Wan F A.; Ballantyne, Lesley; Chan, Kin Onn (2020). "DNA-based species delimitation reveals cryptic and incipient species in synchronous flashing fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) of Southeast Asia". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 130 (3): 520–532. doi: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa072 . Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  7. ↑ Jusoh, Wan F. A.; Ballantyne, Lesley; Lambkin, Christine L.; Hashim, Nor Rasidah; Wahlberg, Niklas (6 August 2018). "The firefly genus Pteroptyx Olivier revisited (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae)". Zootaxa. 4456 (1): 1–71. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4456.1.1. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   30314190. S2CID   52977161.
  8. ↑ Ng, Casey Keat-Chuan; Ong, Robert Cyril (5 April 2022). "A review of anthropogenic interaction and impact characteristics of the Sundaic mangroves in Southeast Asia". Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 267: 107759. Bibcode:2022ECSS..26707759N. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2022.107759. ISSN   0272-7714. S2CID   246439532.
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