Life cycle and larval feeding strategies of the mangrove firefly Pteroptyx tener (Coleoptera, Lampyridae, Luciolinae): implications for conservation of a vulnerable species.

Authors

Parichart Laksanawimol, Rinrada Jundasri, Anchana Thancharoen

Published in

PeerJ. Volume 14. Pages e21575. Epub Aug 05, 2026.

Abstract

Pteroptyx tener is a mangrove-associated firefly known for its synchronous flashing behavior and is currently classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Despite its ecological and economic importance, its larval biology remains poorly understood. This study aimed to describe the life cycle and larval feeding ecology of Pteroptyx tener under controlled conditions. Adults were collected from a mangrove river system in southern Thailand and reared in two experimental trials under laboratory conditions. Eggs, larvae, and pupae were maintained on moist cotton substrates, and larvae were fed juvenile golden apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata) throughout development. Larval feeding behavior, developmental duration, survival rates, and morphological characteristics were recorded across all instars. The complete life cycle lasted approximately 7-8 months and comprised egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages, with no significant difference between sexes. Survival was high during early larval stages but declined markedly in later instars and during the prepupal transition, likely due to unsuitable pupation substrates. First-instar larvae exhibited gregarious feeding behavior, while larvae showed temporary starvation tolerance. These findings indicate multiple adaptive traits, including gregarious feeding, developmental plasticity, and trophic flexibility. These results provide a basis for conservation implementation, emphasizing habitat-based management strategies that integrate mangrove restoration, prey resource conservation, and control of anthropogenic stressors to support population persistence of Pteroptyx tener.

PMID:
42571555
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 09 Aug 2026.

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