Take The Path Less Ordinary

Commonly known as fire fly or lightning bug, the Malaysian specie is the only one that flocks together by the thousands after dark and make trees glitter like Christmas tree. For hundreds of years, local boatmen are said to use glowing trees as navigation marks after sundown.

First brought to world’s attention in the 90’s and fueled by the ecotourism industry in Kuala Selangor region, specifically Kampung Kuantan riverbank, fire fly watching has became a must-do for nature lovers. It is a highly popular day trip for tourists from nearby Kuala Lumpur or KL. Sadly, after years of noise and flashlight pollution from hundreds of night visitors, not to mention sewage and toxic pollution in the river from upstream highly industrialised Selangor state, sightings of fireflies have sharply reduced and there are already signs of colonies disappearing. Kuala Selangor close proximity to capital KL simply means fire flies could not longer blink in peace. Today’s Kuala Selangor fire fly population is a pale comparison of its heydays.

Nonetheless, if one care to go off-grid and explore countryside spots, a healthy population of fire flies still exist in …

1. West coastal Perak: Terong - Kalumpang - Matang - Kuala Gula - Bagan Krian vast mangrove tract. A small colony exist in Sungai Linggi near Port Dickson.
2. East coastal Pahang & Terengganu: Rompin - Nenasi - Beserah - Balok - Cherating - Kemaman shoreline.
3. East and south coastal Johor: Tanjung Sedili, Tanjung Tenggaroh, Benut, Kukup and Tanjung Piai mangrove regions.
4. Sabah: Klias, Marudu Bay and Pitas mangrove mudflats.

Nocturnal playground

The Malaysian fire-fly, Pteroptyx tener, is traditionally believed to only flock one type of tree - the Sonneratia caseolaris or local name “Berembang”.

However, we have witnessed fireflies congregating in other mangrove trees dipped in fresh and seawater mix river and swampland, namely Sonneratia alba, Heritiera littoralis (Dungun), Rhizophora apiculata (Bakau minyak) and Excoecaria indica.

Sonneratia’s persimmon-like fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. Juice from the fruit is used by villagers to arrest haemorrhage and treat coughs.

No one knows for sure why only certain trees are selected and flocked by fire-flies night after night. The same tree can enjoy night glitters up to 20 years while neighbouring trees are left in darkness. Mother Nature works in mysterious ways.

For firefly colony to thrive, the flow and water quality of the habitat is of utmost importance. There must be minimal pollution and the mix of upstream freshwater and downstream seawater must be kept at mildly saline. Therefore, its habitat is highly sensitive to the river’s eco-system. A slight imbalance on water salinity caused by continuous rain would sharply reduce the colony’s population.

Larva feeding on snail - Larvae are amphibious and carnivorous. They feed on nematodes, copepods and other larvae but their favourite would have to be Cyclotropis carinata snails which are found in decaying undergrowth plants near the river fringe.

Male flasher

That’s right. In Pteroptyx world, it’s perfectly legal to flash in front of the ladies. Flashing is courtship ritual and male that produces the most intense glow draws in the most females.

Male has more light emitting cells on its body

Firefly has a body length of 4-6mm and male has larger glow cells underneath its abdomen compared to female. Fire flies hide under leaves and foliage by day. Flashing begins as soon as the sun set, roughly at 2-3 flashes per second. The glittering display is most brilliant during 1-2 hours after sunset and continues at low level until the first crack of dawn.

Flock and flicker

Individuals synchronize by timing their flashes according to neighbors’. After 15 minutes or so, synchronised flashing quickly developed on the tree. Trees that are nearby may flash in synchrony too!

Researchers suggest that by flocking together, collectively, males produce brighter glows and stand a better chance of attracting females. This theory also jives well with the reason why fire flies only gather at certain trees. Nonetheless, this still doesn’t explain why Sonneratia tree is the favourite spots to congregate. Other authorities explain that by flocking and flashing together in synchrony, females can compare flash intensities and choose the best mates.

Clearly, females always look at the brighter side.

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Imagine watching miles of glittering trees, all glowing in the dark. It’s magical.

If you like to scour un-touristed mangrove forest for fire flies, safely, you’ll enjoy a highly informative jaunt with our English speaking naturalist. See Bagan Krian Swampland Night River Safari package.