Is the firefly on the verge of extinction ? They show the way of the flying light with the responsibility of the traveler in the dark. Even today, they continue to fulfill that responsibility in the village path. How many stories about firefly are still prevalent in fairy tales. However, the countdown has already started for how long these firefly will keep the lights on.
The mystery of firefly light. A special type of cell is present in the lower part of the abdomen of the insect. When firefly receives oxygen, oxygen is mixed with a special substance called ‘luciferin’ in all those cells. This is how firefly light is made. However, scientists still don’t know how fireflies control light on and off. There are about two thousand species of gorse in the world. However, not all species of fireflies can light up. Not only that, light is produced not only by adult cockroaches, but also by the larvae of cockroaches, even their eggs. Scientists claim that firefly light is the purest light on earth. Because this light is all light energy. There is no energy here except light. That’s why scientists call Jonaki’s light as cold light. But slowly this cold light of the world is going to extinguish. Because, day by day the number of firefly is decreasing. In 2020, a team led by Professor Sarah Lewis of Tufts University in Boston researched the reasons for the decline in jonquils. It has revealed some sensational information.
Fireflies are losing their homes. Larvae usually grow as larvae in rotting wood and forested areas near ponds or reservoirs. The problem is, due to the push of global development, the firefly habitat is under threat. Because, open fields or forest areas are gradually disappearing. Multi-storied houses are growing by occupying the swamp. In the tide of so many developments, fireflies are not getting a suitable living environment. As the habitat becomes ensnared by development, so do the numbers of firefly .
Professor Sarah Lewis claims that many animals in the world are losing their habitats and are on the way to extinction. The same is happening with firefly . Fungi need certain environmental conditions to complete their life cycle. When these conditions are lost, their numbers decrease in the next generation. There is a species of firefly in Malaysia that needs mangrove forests to live and breed. However, due to the widespread expansion of palm oil trees and agricultural farms in place of mangroves in Malaysia, the breeding of this species is problematic. Gradually their number is decreasing.
The firefly that live along the banks of mangrove forests in Thailand are also dwindling in numbers. The banks of the river are being eroded by the waves created by the motor boats. As a result, the habitat of firefly is getting damaged in the face of crisis. Moreover, due to the lamps used in these boats, the normal life of firefly is being disrupted.
According to pollution scientists, one of the reasons behind the decline in the number of gophers is excessive artificial light or light pollution at night. According to Sarah Lewis and her team’s research, more than 23 percent of the Earth’s land surface is illuminated by artificial light at night. And this artificial light is creating obstacles in the propagation of firefly . Avalon Owens, a co-author of the study, said the ants produce light using a chemical reaction inside their bodies called bioluminescence. It is with this light that they attract mates to breed. Artificial light disrupts this process. Firefly is dying of pesticides.
With the touch of modernity, various pollutions and the increase in the use of pesticides have also become dark for the firefly . As the fireflies are dying due to these pollutions, the food of the firefly is also dying. All in all, the whole thing seems to be going against the existence of firefly . Pesticides used in agriculture cause extensive damage to the soil and aquatic environment in which the larvae of weevils grow. It takes several months for the larva to develop into a full-fledged adult. Excess insecticide during this time can kill the larvae of the weevil.
Recently, a study was conducted in Korea on the effects of 10 types of pesticides on cockroaches. It can be seen that the effect of some insecticides is so high that due to its effect, the mortality rate from larvae to adults can reach 80 to 100 percent. Even the ability to lay eggs can decrease from zero to 33 percent. In addition, spraying is done to kill mosquitoes, which is also harmful to mosquitoes.
All in all firefly life is under threat. If this continues, the cold light of the world will one day really disappear from the living map.
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