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Pteroptyx tener is a distinctive bent-winged firefly found in Southeast Asia. This species is an ecotourism attraction in Malaysia because tourists enjoy their synchronous flashing in large numbers on the mangrove trees and shrubs at night. The most known states for firefly studies are Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Terengganu, Sarawak and Sabah in the meantime. This study aims to study the distribution of congregating fireflies in Malaysia. The objectives of the study are to identify the need to sustain the fireflies and their habitat in Malaysia, to describe the characteristics of their habitats and the usage of GIS in preserving and conserving the habitats of firefly. Regarding the potential economic benefits for local communities from firefly ecotourism, for example in Kuala Selangor, Kuala Sepetang and Rembau-Linggi, human activities have started to affect the habitats of the firefly Pteroptyx tener in Malaysia. The general opinion is that, due to habitat loss and degradation anthropogenic sources, firefly populations in these areas have decreased over the years. Five distinct vegetation assemblages comprising different combinations of four species of mangroves were defined. Shorter display sections of P. tener colonies had greater percentage coverage. However, the vegetation assemblage which consisting of mainly Sonneratia casseolaris and Nypa fruticans was the most preferred type. Resulting in the necessity to consider not only a single mangrove species but the entire vegetation assemblage for firefly conservation.
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In-Text Citation: (Fuzi et al., 2021)
To Cite this Article: Fuzi, N. F. A., Rahman, A. A., & Marzukhi, F. (2021). Distribution of the Congregating Fireflies in Malaysia: A Review. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(9), 778–795.
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