The study of firefly (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) Genus Pteroptyxin Weston, Beaufort, Sabah
Weston was visited by tourists for firefly watching activities by cruising along the river by boats since 1996. The aims of this study were to assess the health status of firefly congregating zones in Weston and to compare the patterns of firefly swarms against the firefly watching activities. Five...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2017
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/17833/1/The%20study%20of%20firefly.pdf |
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| Summary: | Weston was visited by tourists for firefly watching activities by cruising along the river by boats since 1996. The aims of this study were to assess the health status of firefly congregating zones in Weston and to compare the patterns of firefly swarms against the firefly watching activities. Five sections of the river (Sg. Jam Jam and extension of Sg. Bukau-Sg. Maraba) were selected for river surveys for six moon cycles continuously from November 2011 till May 2012. On each moon cycle, a total of 8 nights of river surveys were done on eight phases of moon phase for every non-raining night. The density of each firefly colony was measured by using a percentage density chart. Parameters such as colony diameter size, wind force, height of the host plants, the abundance of leaves of host plants and relative humidity level were recorded. At the end of the river surveys, fireflies were caught using a sweep net for identification and preservation purpose. A total of 776 sights of fireflies colony were recorded during six cycles of moon. Three Pteroptyx species (P. malaccae, P. tener and P. bearni) were found in Weston. Sonnerattia caseolaris
(Pidada / Berembang tree) trees were used by fireflies as their host plants. Pearson correlation analysis showed that tree height has a negative weak relationship against fireflies' colonies density (r= -0.188, p= 0.00); while, leaves abundance has a positive very weak relationship against fireflies colonies density (r= 0.101, p= 0.005). |
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