All is not well for the Japanese firefly. So far, it was considered that only big bats, great apes, whales and other big animals were being hunted and poached by humans. Now, even insects are not safe. The news from Japan confirms this. Fireflies in Japan are being facing an extinction threat posed not by predatory birds, pesticides and insecticides but by human poachers.

In Japan, the insect is regarded more than just a tiny creature. It’s a source of inspiration for Haiku (traditional poem of Japan). The firefly is kept as a pet by children and the ancients believe it to be the souls of dead Kamikaze pilots. In a country known for its artistically sensitive people, fireflies are known to be a cultural symbol.

These insects produce flickering red, yellow or green light. Because of this visual brilliance these insects steal everybody’s attention via firefly displays. The tradition of firefly watching was first established in the Heian Period (9th century) of Japanese History. Since then, the insect has been the object of fascination among kids, adults, poets, artists and have been weaved into the numerous folktales of the country. Unfortunately now, in the rapidly commercializing world of ours, these insects are being poached for summer firefly displays at hotels, restaurants and private farm houses.

Increasing pollution and destruction of habitat are other factors that have so far contributed in declining the number of these small creatures. But the decline in population brought about by poaching is fairly visible as, officials at Fussa Firefly Park confirm the disappearance of nearly 80% of firefly population in just one night alone during this summer season. Fussa, in west of Tokyo is a favorite destination among locals who swarm here in summer, to see the firefly display in natural settings.

All over Japan, some thirty species of fireflies are found. Among these, the one which is very popular for its fire display is Luciola cruciata commonly known as the Genji Firefly. Following the incident at Fussa Park, the local policemen are on the lookout for the poachers. As per the police, criminal charges may be slapped on those found guilty, to discourage poaching .Japanese Fireflies are on sale on the internet aswell. The customers being locals to tourists who want to pet these fire flickering insects.

The mechanism of light emission in fireflies is a product of chemical reaction between luciferin and oxygen brought about by the enzyme luciferase. The exothermic reaction leads to the dissipation of energy in form of light often pale red, yellow or greenish in color from the hind legs and tails of these organisms.
Fireflies are just one of the numerous marvels of nature that are now disappearing rapidly due to human activities. It’s high time that their poaching must be curbed else, the coming generations in Japan will learn about these brilliant insects only through paintings and Haiku.

Via TimesOnline