Genus
Pteroptyx The
genus Pteroptyx
was erected by Ernest Olivier in 1902 for species in
which the males have apices of the elytra strongly deflexed and the terminal
abdominal sternite strongly trilobed or trisinuate. The hooked elytral tips of
Pteroptyx
fireflies are the primary criterion for separating the genus
Pteroptyx
from Luciola. Little is known about the natural history and behaviour of
Pteroptyx
but it appears that this genus is often involved in the arboreal synchronous
flashing so characteristic of Southeast Asia. Six-week
old larva of Pteroptyx tener. Female
(left) and male (right) Pteroptyx tener in a romantic mood. Female
(left) and male (right) Pteroptyx tener. Pteroptyx valida
was identified based on records from Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia,
whereas
Pteroptyx malaccae
was identifed based on known records from
Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, Kalimantan and Cambodia.
P. malaccae
and
P. valida
have been observed in displays near Bangkok. The
synchronous displays for which the
Pteroptyx
species are responsible have
been identified occurring in trees or shrubs along tidal rivers in mangrove-nypa
swamps. Many of the reports have described synchrony in riverbank trees in
Malaysia, Indonesia, the Phillipines and New Guinea, and several of the species
from these regions have a coastal distribution. The congregation of fireflies in
Sonneratia caseolaris
trees along the lowest three miles of the Benut
River in Johore have also been described by several firefly observers. Pteroptyx
is the most widely distributed genus in Peninsular Malaysia.
The
three dominant species of
Pteroptyx
found throughout the Peninsula are
Pteroptyx
tener E. Olivier,
Pteroptyx valida
E. Olivier and Pteroptyx
malaccae (Gorham). A lesser-known species with similar taxonomical
characteristics to Pteroptyx tener
was identified as
Pteroptyx sp.
Although this species is similar to P.
tener, it appears to be an
undescribed species.
Pteroptyx tener was identified based on previous records available from Peninsular
Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, Sumatra and Cambodia. This species has a wide
distribution throughout Thailand, New Guinea and Malaysia and is also the
dominant species in Kampong Kuantan.
