New Firefly Species Found in Singapore Freshwater Swamp; First Discovery Since 1909

A new luminous firefly species has recently been discovered in Singapore, reportedly the first time since 1909.

FUTURITY reported when the researchers first encountered the said species, they knew it was interesting as the specimens were collected from a freshwater swamp forest in Singapore's central catchment area. Essentially, fireflies are unusually reported from this type of habitat.

More so, according to Wan Faridah Akmal Jusoh, the study's lead author and a research fellow at the National University of Singapore Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum or LKCNHM, it does not fit the descriptions of any identified firefly species to date.

This most recent study on newly discovered Singapore firefly also called Luciola singapura, entitled Molecular Systematics of the Firefly Genus Luciola (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae) with the Description of a New Species from Singapore, is published in the Animals journal.

According to National Geographic, in general, we are familiar with fireflies but few people realize these insects are in fact, beetles, nocturnal family Lampyridae members.

Most fireflies have wings, which distinguishes them from other luminous insects of the same family, typically identified as glowworms.

ALSO READ: New Study Shows How Beetles Keep Rivals Off to Feed Their Future Offspring

Luciola Singapore with 208 Species

More than a decade ago, in 2009, the National Parks Board or NParks conducted a nationwide survey of fireflies at 14 locations within Singapore and it was able to document 11 firefly species which include an unknown species, codenamed Luciola sp. 2 after the firefly genus Luciola.

Jusoh explained, they thought the specimens collected in 2009 were the only ones of the unknown species until this study's lead author began to examine the firefly collection in LKCNHM and discovered three additional specimens collected a decade before.

Now, more than a decade from that countrywide survey, the study investigators from NUS and NParks revisited the firefly habitat situated in the Nee Soon Swamp Forest and collected additional specimens of Luciola sp. 2 successfully.

Essentially, the genus Luciola comprises roughly 280 species, most of which, cannot be identified from each other simply by eye.

To identify the Luciola sp.2's identity, the study authors conducted intricate dissections to study internal organs and applied modern through an approach also known as genome skimming.

First Discovery of Luciola Species Since 1909

Two years after the collection and analysis of data, the research team showed that Luciola sp. 2 is both inherently and morphologically unique.

This particular species, which is less than five millimeters in length, and described as a now new species called Luciola singapura.

This research highlights the importance and use of molecular methods that can offer solutions to problems that are otherwise quite hard to resolve through the use of traditional methods said the paper's co-author Chan Kin Onn, also LKCNHM museum officer.

Before this latest discovery, the last new luminous firefly discovered in Singapore was in 1909, when Pteroptyx bearni Olivier was first identified. This, according to the National Library of Medicine, is a popular congregating firefly species observed in Southeast Asian mangroves.

Regrettably, this species has not been detected in Singapore since that time and is presumed to have been exterminated.

This work's collaborators are from NUS Biological Sciences, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, and Charles Sturt University.

A similar report is shown on CNA's YouTube video below: