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Aquatica leii

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Aquatica leii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Elateriformia
Family: Lampyridae
Genus: Aquatica
Species:
A. leii
Binomial name
Aquatica leii
(Fu & Ballantyne, 2006)

Aquatica leii, also known as Lei's swamp flasher,is a species of firefly that is native to mainland China.[1] It is one of nine species of aquatic fireflies, seven of which belong to the genus Aquatica, within the subfamily Luciolinae.[2] The members of this genus are named for their aquatic larval stage. They have been listed as a protected species in China since June 2023.[3] Their declining numbers are thought to be largely due to their sensitivity to water quality and pollution.[4]

Description

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As larvae, A. leii are black in color with soft bodies and yellow spots.[5] These larvae have tracheal gills and spiracles, as well as 10 pairs of eversible organs.[6] These organs are white, forked, defensive glands that emit a "strong pine smell" when they are disturbed, most likely for defense.[7] A. leii larvae also possess "flower-shaped" protrusions that have multiple spines on them.[6] Adult members of this species are approximately 6.5-11mm in length and have a pale yellowish orange pronotum with a brown rim.[5] Females are generally larger than males.[8] Males and females produce a yellowish-greenish light as larvae and adults.[9]

Taxonomy

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First mentioned under the genus Luciola in X. Fu et al's 2006 publication of The Canadian Entomologist, it was reclassified under the genus Aquatica in 2010.[1]

Habitat and lifecycle

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Aquatica leii can be found in the province of Hubei in Mainland China. As larvae, they live in shallow fresh water sources such as streams, rivers, ditches, and rice fields.[1] Larvae are unable to swim and exist as bottom dwellers, attaching themselves to substrate or hiding under sand.[1] These larvae have the ability to glow spontaneously from light emitting organ(s) on the second to last segment of their abdomen.[1] It is thought that this is a form of aposematism and that as adults, this ability becomes a sexual signal to aid in finding a mate.[7] As adults both males and females retain this ability to flash from their light emitting organ, with males flying at dusk in search of females.[10] Once a female is located, the male switches to a new "courting pattern", and the female flashes a pattern in response.[10] Males may attempt to court the same female and it is thought that sexual selection may be based on the bases of the male flashes.[10] After mating, females lay their eggs on the leaves and stems of aquatic plants above the water line and then die after approximately 7 days.[10] The adult stage typically lasts around a total of 10 days for this species.[10] The larval stage has been known to last approximately two years.[10] When larvae reach maturity, they emerge onto land and form a "pupal cell" using soil. They remain in this cell for around 5 days before emerging as adults.[10] Emergence occurs between the months of April and September.[10]

Diet

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Aquatica leii exhibits predatory behavior and specializes on a diet of aquatic snails.[10] Larvae typically search for food at night, and more than one individual can be seen feeding on the same snail.[11]

Threats

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No species has been witnessed preying upon A.leii, but they have been witnessed becoming captured in a spider's web, with their flashes attracting other members of their species to the web as well.[10] Due to their aquatic larval stage, they face multiple threats including, but not limited to: habitat loss (water bodies drying), water pollution, and overall declines in water quality.[12]

Applications for humans

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Due to their diet of freshwater snails, it has been suggested that A. leii may be of use as a biological agent, potentially able to control the spread of parasites like liver flukes, which utilize these snails as an intermediate host and can cause schistosomiasis.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Fu, Xinhua; Meyer-Rochow, V. Benno (2012-09-01). "An investigation into the morphological and behavioral adaptations of the aquatic larvae of Aquatica leii (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) to prey upon freshwater snails that serve as intermediate hosts for the liver fluke". Biological Control. 62 (3): 127–134. Bibcode:2012BiolC..62..127F. doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2011.12.007. ISSN 1049-9644.
  2. ^ Zhao, Zi-Shun; Yang, Lin-Yu; Li, Fu-Xin; Cun, Wei; Wang, Xing-Yan; Cao, Cheng-Quan; Zhang, Qi-Lin (2023-10-20). "Gut flora alterations among aquatic firefly Aquatica leii inhabiting various dissolved oxygen in fresh water". iScience. 26 (10) 107809. Bibcode:2023iSci...26j7809Z. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.107809. ISSN 2589-0042. PMC 10514463. PMID 37744031.
  3. ^ Yang, Lin-Yu; Tang, Da-Rui; Li, Fu-Xin; Luo, Shi-Qi; Cao, Cheng-Quan; Zhang, Qi-Lin (2024-12-18). "Larval Feeding Habits of Five Firefly Species Across Aquatic, Semi-Aquatic, and Terrestrial Lineages". Insects. 15 (12): 1004. doi:10.3390/insects15121004. ISSN 2075-4450. PMC 11679764. PMID 39769606.
  4. ^ Fu, Xinhua; Meyer-Rochow, Victor Benno (2021-04-16). "Selection and Validation of Suitable Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Analysis in the Rare Aquatic Firefly Aquatica leii (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)". Insects. 12 (4): 359. doi:10.3390/insects12040359. ISSN 2075-4450. PMC 8072524. PMID 33923730.
  5. ^ a b "HKBIH - Species Information". bih.gov.hk. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  6. ^ a b Fu, Xinhua; Meyer-Rochow, V. Benno; Tyler, John; Suzuki, Hirobumi; De Cock, Raphael (2009-09-01). "Structure and function of the eversible organs of several genera of larval firefly (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)". Chemoecology. 19 (3): 155–168. Bibcode:2009Chmec..19..155F. doi:10.1007/s00049-009-0016-8. ISSN 1423-0445.
  7. ^ a b Fu, Xinhua; Vencl, Fredric V.; Nobuyoshi, Ohba; Meyer-Rochow, V. Benno; Lei, Chaoliang; Zhang, Zhongning (2007-06-01). "Structure and function of the eversible glands of the aquatic firefly Luciola leii (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)". Chemoecology. 17 (2): 117–124. Bibcode:2007Chmec..17..117F. doi:10.1007/s00049-007-0370-3. ISSN 1423-0445.
  8. ^ "雷氏螢 Aquatica leii". 香港螢火蟲 Hong Kong Fireflies. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  9. ^ "雷氏螢 AQUATICA LEII". Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Fu, Xinhua; Nobuyoshi, Ohba; Vencl, Fredric V.; Lei, Chaoliang (2006). "Life cycle and behaviour of the aquatic firefly". The Canadian Entomologist. 138 (6): 860–870. doi:10.4039/n05-093. ISSN 1918-3240.
  11. ^ Fu, Xinhua; Nobuyoshi, Ohba; Zhang, Ying; Lei, Chaoliang (2012-04-02). "A rearing apparatus and diet for the aquatic firefly Luciola leii (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)". The Canadian Entomologist. 138 (3): 399–406. doi:10.4039/n05-029. ISSN 1918-3240.
  12. ^ Fu, X.; Ballantyne, L. (2025-02-21). "An Overview of Aquatica Fu et al., a Phylogeny of Aquatic Fireflies Using Mitochondrial Genomes, a Description of Two New Species, and a New Record of Aquatic Fireflies in China (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae) - PMC". Insects. 15 (1): 31. doi:10.3390/insects15010031. PMC 10817006. PMID 38249037.