Japanese Common Name

Kumejima-botaru

Scientific name

Luciola owadai

Taxonomy

Order: Coleoptera, Family: Lampyridae

Size

1.2 cm – 1.6 cm

Species Distribution

Kumejima Island

National Special Natural Monument

National Endangered Species

Okinawa Red List of Threatened Species: Vulnerable

Japan Red List of Threatened Species: Critically Endangered

This species of aquatic firefly was found in 1993 and reported as newly found species in 1994. It is closely related to Japanese Firefly, Luciola cruciate. The Kumejima-botaru seems to be a part of the group that diverted about 15 million years ago. About 50 species of fireflies are found in Japan, and about half of them are found in Okinawa. Among them, Kumejima-Botaru is the only aquatic firefly, which is a type of firefly that lives in water during larval stage.

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※Please Note!
Luciola owadai is an endangered species and has been declared a National and Okinawa Natural Monument. Please refer to the Act on Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and Japan’s law for the Protection of Cultural Properties.

Updated June 2017

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