Saving Goa’s last fireflies

by Nandkumar Kamat
Posted on 2008-09-20
Are you a resident in countryside/rural areas of Goa? If yes, then ask yourself a simple question-when is that you saw the fireflies?. The ‘kajules” as known in local language?. And if you haven’t seen them for a long time then you need to be worried. A conference on conservation of fireflies was organized in last week of August in the Thai city of Chiang Mai, Thailand. More than 100 entomologists and biologists presented data about the rapid disappearance of firefly species from worlds’ wild natural habitats from USA to south East Asia.
There are three factors, which have resulted in their reduction- urban sprawl, industrial pollution and artificial lights. Researchers in Europe and the United States believe urban sprawl and industrial pollution have destroyed the habitat of fireflies or glow worms. The spread of artificial lights may also be a factor, disrupting mating behaviour. Who doesn’t like fireflies-the beautiful, tiny glowing insects, which emit a yellowish green glow as they fly on dark and damp nights? There are about 2000 species worldwide and more are found every year in areas, which have escaped human interference. Interestingly, my own backyard field notes compare very well with expert observations. Fireflies are also disappearing from Goa too.
They have already vanished from Goa’s urban pockets. Now light pollution with Sodium vapor lamps have also seen their demise. But the most critical factors are wild fires and frequent use of herbicides/weedicides/insecticides, which don’t discriminate between harmful and innocent species. I have recorded appearance of fireflies within just two days of the premonsoon showers between 22nd May to 29th May since 2001. Their numbers dwindle from middle of September and it is rare to see them in November. But with high humidity, heavy rains, cloudy skies and dark nights these glowing creatures used to appear frequently in the months of July and august with a peak period of June 15 to August 15.
Over the years I have not seen any increase in their numbers. From outskirts of Panaji city they have disappeared. In the countryside their appearance is associated with vegetation, wet, humid and dark places. But very few of such places are left. Fireflies live for a few months. During this short period the glowing males need to mate with the females. The mating occurs on vegetation. After monsoon the fireflies vanish and we don’t know how their progeny survives under dry conditions. But now the global conference has identified that the habitat of fireflies is getting destroyed. The soil and vegetation is getting poisoned.
The night time illumination confuses their mating signal, the characteristic light signals which they emit in pulses. Fireflies are known to the biologists as excellent indicators of the health of the ecosystem. Goa needs to be alarmed if people begin reporting disappearance of fireflies from their areas because that would point to bad ecosystem conservation. At our university campus fireflies present breathtaking displays at night in the scattered islands of wild herbaceous vegetation. It is easy to watch their flashes during flight and generally they are shy insects if one decides to catch them. Many a times fireflies used to enter our houses at night. They used to illuminate a large area on the walls or floor with their eerie light.
Such scenes would be now rare.  The young generation may not be able to see them unless taken to interiors of Goa, in forest areas. The practical use of studying the fireflies lies in their photobiochemistry. There is a powerful enzyme system-the luciferrin-luciferase system in their light producing organs. Biotechnologists have used this system in various applications. At least three to four firefly species may be found in Goa going by their colour emissions. But such surveys have not been carried out. Some species might have disappeared even before cataloguing.
Now as sociobiologist and entomologist E.O.Wilson recommends-“we need to save what remains” . That was precisely the purpose of the Thailand conference. Teachers and students of biology in Goa need to come forward and join the global fireflies watch movement. Just open this weblink of Museum of science, Boston,A https://www.mos.org/fireflywatch/ and register yourself to become a volunteer. You would join the global movement in conserving Goa’s beautiful firefly species. Collect details of past sightings from the elders and compare with present picture. If  you spot no fireflies in your backyard then it tells you that the ecosystem is endangered. There is a simple survey format which can be filled online. That would help the experts to gather global data. Those who join in this global effort would be thinking globally (about fireflies)
and acting locally-and act before it is too late.