Asian firefly
Luciola spp.
Also called: Paddy fireflies
At a glance
- Flash
- Quick, greenish flashes, often many at once, low over water and wet fields
- Habitat
- Rice paddies, streams, ponds and river margins
- Range
- Across Asia — East, South and Southeast Asia
- Season
- The warm, humid months; often the rainy season
- Size
- 7–12 mm
- When active
- Dusk and the early hours of night
Overview
Luciola is a large, diverse Old-World genus and the firefly most people in Asia grow up with — the 'hotaru' of Japanese summer nights and a fixture of rice-paddy country across the continent. Adults give quick, greenish flashes low over water and wet fields at dusk.
Several Luciola species have aquatic or semi-aquatic larvae that develop in clean, slow water, which makes the adults a familiar sight over paddies and streams — and a useful indicator of water quality. Because they depend on clean water and dark nights, healthy Luciola populations are a sign of a healthy wetland.
How to identify
Greenish, rapid flashes drifting low over water or wet fields at dusk, usually in numbers. Tied closely to paddies, streams and ponds.
Conservation
Sensitive to agricultural pesticides and to water pollution in paddies and streams. Widely studied as a bio-indicator; chemical-free, well-watered paddies keep them glowing.
Sources & further reading
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