A study on the firefly species and their habitats in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), where mega congregation of the insects and their synchronised bioluminescence is observed during summer every year, has underscored the need to take proactive conservation measures to preserve their habitat and safeguard the ecosystem.
It has also stressed the need to minimise the impact of artificial light on the communication and mating behaviours of fireflies.
Extensive field surveys were conducted during the firefly mating seasons from 2022-2023 in the ATR for the study, which was authored by Sriram Murali and Mathi Thumilan B. of Wild and Dark Earth — a non-governmental organisation engaged in the study and conservation of nocturnal habitats; Geetha G. Thimmegowda of Nithyaharidhvarna Foundation; and S. Ramasubramanian, M.G. Ganesan, K. Bhargava Teja and V. Selvam, officers of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.
