Fotoecological aspects of Bicellonycha lividipennis Motschulsky, 1854 (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) fireflies: adaptation to sites under ALAN and anthropic influence

Resumen

Abstract Fireflies are disappearing around the globe due to habitat reduction, use of pesticides, and especially artificial nightlighting (ALAN), which directly interfere with their sexual communication through bioluminescence. For this reason, they constitute promising nocturnal bioindicators. Here we report ecological aspects of Bicellonycha lividipennis (Motschulsky, 1854), a common marshy field firefly in Brazil, and its occurrence in sites under ALAN and anthropic influences during the past 30 years. This firefly is twilight active and was abundant in flat swampy areas, often impacted by tramped pastures and also in sites under high levels of ALAN, especially High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps. The relatively high natural irradiance during twilight at the onset of activity of this firefly (dowelling ≤6 Lux; upwelling~ 0.5–2.0 Lux), the lower overlap of the bioluminescence spectra (570 nm) in the yellow-green window (550–565 nm) with the natural twilight illumination (<550 nm, > 600 nm), and the sunset simulating effect of HPS (>568 nm) may explain the adaptation of this firefly in sites under influence of HPS. The results indicate that B. lividipennis is an opportunistic species which may have recently spread to opened areas, including those under ALAN. HPS could be less impacting for yellow-green emitting fireflies active in open meadows during the short twilight of tropical latitudes.