# Pteroptyx > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pteroptyx > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pteroptyx.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteroptyx > Source revision: 1352844710 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Short description|Genus of fireflies}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Fireflies (Pteroptyx mcdermotti) Bohol.jpg | image_caption = ''P. mcdermotti'', Bohol, Philippines | image2 = Pteroptyx valida (Olivier, 1909) Lightning Bug 14 mm Lampyridae (20754785916).jpg | image2_caption = ''P.x valida'' in [Chaiyaphum](/source/Chaiyaphum_province), Thailand | taxon = Pteroptyx | authority = Olivier, 1902 | type_species = ''[Pteroptyx testacea](/source/Pteroptyx_testacea)'' | type_species_authority = (Motschulsky, 1854) | subdivision_ranks = [Species](/source/Species) | subdivision = See text }} '''''Pteroptyx''''' is a genus of fireflies in the subfamily [Luciolinae](/source/Luciolinae) found in Southeast Asia. It has long been noted for the ability to perform synchronous flashing, though not all species synchronize.{{Cite journal|last1=Sartsanga|first1=Channarong|last2=Swatdipong|first2=Akarapong|last3=Sriboonlert|first3=Ajaraporn|date=23 March 2018|title=Distribution of the Firefly Genus ''Pteroptyx'' Olivier and a New Record of ''Pteroptyx asymmetria'' Ballantyne (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae) in Thailand|url=https://bioone.org/journals/the-coleopterists-bulletin/volume-72/issue-1/0010-065X-72.1.171/Distribution-of-the-Firefly-Genus-Pteroptyx-Olivier-and-a-New/10.1649/0010-065X-72.1.171.full|journal=The Coleopterists Bulletin|volume=72|issue=1|pages=171–183|doi=10.1649/0010-065X-72.1.171|s2cid=90806682 |issn=0010-065X|url-access=subscription}} 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](/source/Malaysia), [Thailand](/source/Thailand), the [Philippines](/source/Philippines), and [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong).{{Cite journal|last1=Ballantyne|first1=Lesley|last2=Fu|first2=Xin Hua|last3=Shih|first3=Chun-Hat|last4=Cheng|first4=Chui-Yu|last5=Yiu|first5=Vor|date=2011-06-27|title=''Pteroptyx maipo'' Ballantyne, a new species of bent-winged firefly (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) from Hong Kong, and its relevance to firefly biology and conservation|url=https://www.mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.2931.1.2|journal=Zootaxa|language=en|volume=2931|issue=1|pages=8–34–8–34|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.2931.1.2|issn=1175-5334|url-access=subscription}} == Identification == The genus ''Pteroptyx'' was first proposed by [Ernest Olivier](/source/Ernest_Olivier) in 1902 for ''[Luciola](/source/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.{{Cite journal|last1=Ballantyne|first1=Lesley A.|last2=McLean|first2=Miriam R.|date=1970|title=Revisional Studies on the Firefly Genus ''Pteroptyx'' Olivier (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae: Luciolini)|journal=Transactions of the American Entomological Society|volume=96|issue=2|pages=223–305|jstor=25077994 |issn=0002-8320}} Much of the work revising the genera within ''Luciolinae'' has been done by Australian entomologist [Lesley Ballantyne](/source/Lesley_Ballantyne), beginning in 1970.{{Cite journal|last1=Ballantyne|first1=Lesley|last2=Lambkin|first2=Christine L.|last3=Boontop|first3=Yuvarin|last4=Jusoh|first4=Wan F. A.|date=2015-05-20|title=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|journal=Zootaxa|volume=3959|pages=1–84|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.3959.1.1|issn=1175-5334|pmid=26249372}} 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](/source/Molecular_sequence_data) 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.{{Cite journal|last1=Jusoh|first1=Wan F. A.|last2=Hashim|first2=Nor Rasidah|last3=Sääksjärvi|first3=Ilari E.|last4=Adam|first4=Nur Azura|last5=Wahlberg|first5=Niklas|date=December 2014|title=Species Delineation of Malaysian Mangrove Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) using DNA Barcodes|url=https://bioone.org/journals/the-coleopterists-bulletin/volume-68/issue-4/0010-065X-68.4.703/Species-Delineation-of-Malaysian-Mangrove-Fireflies-Coleoptera--Lampyridae-using/10.1649/0010-065X-68.4.703.full|journal=The Coleopterists Bulletin|volume=68|issue=4|pages=703–711|doi=10.1649/0010-065X-68.4.703|s2cid=86004352 |issn=0010-065X|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite journal |journal=Biological Journal of the Linnean Society |title= DNA-based species delimitation reveals cryptic and incipient species in synchronous flashing fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) of Southeast Asia |date= 2020 |doi=10.1093/biolinnean/blaa072 |doi-access=free |url=https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article/130/3/520/5855127 |access-date=2022-02-14 |last1= Jusoh |first1= Wan F A. |last2= Ballantyne |first2= Lesley |last3= Chan |first3= Kin Onn |volume= 130 |issue= 3 |pages= 520–532 }} == Taxonomy == The genus ''Pteroptyx'' was divided into ''Pteroptyx'', ''[Trisinuata](/source/Trisinuata)'', and ''[Medeoptyx](/source/Medeoptyx)'' in 2013, with divisions based on localities and certain morphological characteristics.{{Cite journal |last1=Sriboonlert |first1=Ajaraporn |last2=Swatdipong |first2=Akarapong |last3=Sartsanga |first3=Channarong |last4=Prommarit |first4=Kamonchat |last5=Chittavichai |first5=Thanyaporn |last6=Jusoh |first6=Wan F.A. |last7=Wonnapinij |first7=Passorn |date=June 2023 |title=Description of four new Medeopteryx Ballantyne (Coleoptera, Lampyridae, Luciolinae) species from Thailand and their phylogenetic placements based on mitochondrial DNA |journal=Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology |language=en |volume=26 |issue=2 |article-number=102084 |doi=10.1016/j.aspen.2023.102084|doi-access=free }} The genus ''[Inflata](/source/Inflata)'' is grouped with the three genera to form a [monophyletic clade](/source/Monophyletic_group). == 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](/source/Bangkok). Many of the species examined by Jusoh et al. in 2018 using genetic sequencing of the [mitochondrial DNA](/source/mitochondrial_DNA) were associated with mangroves, as their larva need a continuously damp environment to develop.{{Cite journal|last1=Jusoh|first1=Wan F. A.|last2=Ballantyne|first2=Lesley|last3=Lambkin|first3=Christine L.|last4=Hashim|first4=Nor Rasidah|last5=Wahlberg|first5=Niklas|date=2018-08-06|title=The firefly genus ''Pteroptyx'' Olivier revisited (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae)|journal=Zootaxa|volume=4456|issue=1|pages=1–71|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4456.1.1|issn=1175-5334|pmid=30314190|s2cid=52977161 }} 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](/source/climate_change). === Human interaction === Boat tours for observing the congregating, synchronous flashing of ''Pteroptyx'' species are popular in the [Sundaic region](/source/Sundaic) of southern Thailand and Malaysia. This form of [ecotourism](/source/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.{{Cite journal |last1=Ng |first1=Casey Keat-Chuan |last2=Ong |first2=Robert Cyril |date=2022-04-05 |title=A review of anthropogenic interaction and impact characteristics of the Sundaic mangroves in Southeast Asia |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272771422000191 |journal=Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science |language=en |volume=267 |article-number=107759 |doi=10.1016/j.ecss.2022.107759 |bibcode=2022ECSS..26707759N |s2cid=246439532 |issn=0272-7714|url-access=subscription }} The [Kampung Kuantan Firefly Park](/source/Kampung_Kuantan) in [Selangor, Malaysia](/source/Selangor) received over 57,000 visitors in 2018 to observe the synchronized flashing of ''P. tener''; the fireflies have become an importance source of tourism dollars, although their numbers are decreasing due to human development and anthropogenic impacts on and near firefly habitats.{{Cite journal |last1=Abdullah |first1=Nur-Athirah |last2=Halim |first2=Madihah |last3=Dawood |first3=Mahadimenakbar |last4=Hazmi |first4=Izfa Riza |last5=Husin |first5=Shahril Mohd. |date=2023-03-29 |title=Phylogenetic and Haplotype Analyses Offer Insights Towards Conservation of Pteroptyx tener Olivier, 1907 (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) Populations from Malaysia |url=https://www.entomol.org/journal/index.php/JERS/article/view/2175 |journal=Journal of the Entomological Research Society |language=en |doi=10.51963/jers.v25i1.2175 |issn=2651-3579}} == Species == As described by Ballantyne & Lambkin in 2015, there are 17 known species in ''Pteroptyx''. {{div col|colwidth=28em}} {{Linked species list | Pteroptyx asymmetria | Ballantyne, 2001 | Pteroptyx bearni | Olivier, 1909 | Pteroptyx decolor | Olivier, 1911 | Pteroptyx galbina | Jusoh, 2015 | Pteroptyx gelasina | Ballantyne, 2001 | Pteroptyx gombakia | Ballantyne, 2015 | Pteroptyx maipo | Ballantyne, 2011 | Pteroptyx malaccae | (Gorham, 1880) | Pteroptyx macdermotti | McLean, 1970 | Pteroptyx masatakai | Kawashima, 2003 | Pteroptyx sayangia | Ballantyne, 2015 | Pteroptyx sulawesiensis | Kawashima, 2003 | Pteroptyx surabayia | Ballantyne, 2015 | Pteroptyx tener | Olivier, 1907 | Pteroptyx testacea | (Motschulsky, 1854) | Pteroptyx trucata | Ballantyne, 2001 | Pteroptyx valida | Olivier, 1909 }} {{div col end}} == References == {{Reflist}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q18591556}} Category:Lampyridae genera Category:Bioluminescent insects Category:Fauna of Asia Category:Lampyridae Category:Taxa named by Ernest Olivier --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pteroptyx](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteroptyx) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteroptyx?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.