Artificial light impacts the mate success of female fireflies

Abstract

Anthropogenic light pollution is a novel environmental disruption that affects the movement, foraging and mating behaviour of nocturnal animals. Most of these effects are sublethal, and their net impact on reproductive fitness and population persistence is often extrapolated from behavioural data. Without dedicated tracking of wild individuals, however, it is impossible to predict whether populations in light-polluted habitats will decline or, instead, move to shaded refuges. To disentangle these conflicting possibilities, we investigated how artificial light affects mating and movement in North American Photinus , a genus of bioluminescent fireflies known to experience courtship failure under artificial light. The degree to which artificial light reduced mate success depended on the intensity of the light treatment, its environmental context, and the temporal niche of the species in question. In the laboratory, direct exposure to artificial light completely prevented mating in semi-nocturnal Photinus obscurellus . In the field, artificial light had little impact on the movement or mate success of local Photinus pyralis and Photinus marginellus but strongly influenced mate location in Photinus greeni ; all three species are relatively crepuscular. Our nuanced results suggest greater appreciation of behavioural diversity will help insect conservationists and dark sky advocates better target efforts to protect at-risk species.

Artificial light impairs local attraction to females in male glow-worms

“…For example, Elgert et al (2020) and Kivelä et al (2023) used between 5 and 8 lx to illuminate dummy females and assess the effects on male attraction. However, studies of other species have used higher light intensities, such as Firebaugh and Haynes (2016) , who used 300 lx when studying the effects of artificial lighting on courtship of the crepuscular firefly Photinus pyralis , and Owens and Lewis (2022) , who used up to 240 lx in a laboratory study of courtship of the semi-nocturnal firefly Photinus obscurellus . Nevertheless, the light intensities used in this study should be considered at the higher end of those that could be experienced by L. noctiluca , which are nocturnal.…”

Effects of anthropogenic light on species and ecosystems

“…Moreover, insect declines can be caused by the negative effects of light on reproduction and development (10). Insects that depend on bioluminescent signaling, such as fireflies, are especially vulnerable to anthropogenic light and are directly impaired in reproduction (11). Anthropogenic light deprives insects such as aquatic insects and dung beetles of their ability to use light cues for orientation (39).…”

The Impact of Environment Situation on Fireflies and the Contribution of Fireflies on Environment Situation

“…Light pollution is deadly for their communication system. It's like a curse to make everyone in the region blind, deaf-mute and disable [6]. Obviously, any community with this curse would disappear soon.…”