Anamalai Tiger Reserve is home to 8 species of fireflies, finds study

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The synchronous display of light by mega congregations of fireflies is observed in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve annually.

The synchronous display of light by mega congregations of fireflies is observed in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve annually. | Photo Credit: File photo

The dense forests of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in the Western Ghats are known for the rare phenomenon of synchronous lighting by mega congregations of fireflies every year. Now, a year-long study by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has identified that at least eight species of fireflies light up these forests with their bioluminescence.

The species richness of fireflies in the ATR came to light when the Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC), Vandalur, carried out the study at 10 locations in Manambolly, Pollachi and Ulandy forest ranges of ATR, covering dense forests and agroecosystems close to protected areas. The project was sanctioned under the Annual Plan of Operations 2023-24 and researcher K. Ragavendran conducted the study from April 2024 to March 2025.

Eight species of fireflies, namely Abscondita perplexa, Abscondita terminalis, Asymmetricata humeralis, Curtos species (three different species),  Lamprigera sp. and Pyrocoelia sp, were identified from the firefly larvae and adults collected from the 10 locations.

“We did DNA barcoding for all eight species and submitted the sequences to GenBank, NCBI database, and received accession numbers for the submitted sequences. We also recorded the environmental parameters like atmospheric temperature, humidity, wind velocity and light intensity (Lux level) during insect collection,” said M. Gabriel Paulraj, Project Scientist at AIWC who guided Mr. Ragavendran for the study along with S. Siva Ranjani and S. Selvakumar.  

A. Udhayan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Director of AIWC, said this is the first systematic study on fireflies in the State, where genetic analysis was carried out to confirm different species. 

“This will serve as a benchmark for future studies and analysis on the distribution of firefly species as well as to some extent their abundance, etc,” he said.

Light pollution’s impact

Mr. Udhayan stressed the need to minimise light pollution to the maximum extent possible around forest and wildlife areas. “Not only fireflies, natural behaviour and activities of animals also get affected by light. Fireflies can be an indicator species to show how light pollution affects wildlife,” he added.

Phototactic movement behaviour study showed that Abscondita perplexa preferred darkness and avoided blue, green, yellow, orange, pink and red colours. White light was neither preferred nor avoided. The study stated that a questionnaire survey carried out among the local people in ATR showed that 97% of people have knowledge about fireflies and the decline of firefly population was mainly due to pesticide use and water pollution.

Published - August 26, 2025 12:19 am IST

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