Impact of El Nino on Fireflies and Biodiversity in Bali

The impact of El Nino on fireflies is becoming increasingly alarming. This climate phenomenon, triggered by rising Sea Surface Temperature (SST) in the Pacific Ocean, causes heat waves, drought, and forest fires. In Bali, El Nino from August to October 2023 has severely disrupted firefly habitats, threatening clean air, clean water, and healthy soil—three key environmental indicators that fireflies represent.

What Is El Nino and Why It Matters

El Nino occurs when SST in the Pacific Ocean rises significantly. According to Kexin Li from the International Centre for Climate and Environmental Sciences, historical climate data shows that the probability of El Nino will rise from 56% to 79%. This means its impact could be stronger next year.
In Indonesia, BMKG predicts that El Nino could last until early 2024, with its peak between August and October 2023. During this period, rainfall drops sharply, leading to drought and a clean water crisis. The risk of forest and land fires also increases significantly.

El Nino’s Impact in Bali

While some parts of Indonesia have started to receive rain, areas like NTB, NTT, East Java, and Bali remain dry. BBMKG Region III Denpasar reported that five regencies in Bali—Buleleng, Bangli, Karangasem, Tabanan, and Badung—experienced extended dry spells.
Bali Province BPBD recorded 75 disasters linked to El Nino between August and September 2023, mostly land and forest fires. One notable case occurred on October 1, 2023, when 1.3 hectares of land burned in Mount Batur Nature Tourist Park.

Threats to Biodiversity and Fireflies

The El Nino disaster poses a serious threat to biodiversity. Climate change impacts all levels of life—from genes to species and ecosystems. Insects, especially cold-blooded ones like fireflies, are highly sensitive to temperature changes because they cannot regulate body heat.
Fireflies thrive in warm, humid environments. Rain during the day helps them hunt prey at night. Globally, there are around 2,000 firefly species, and their life cycle plays a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance. Losing fireflies means losing other species that share their habitat.

Firefly Conservation in Bali During El Nino

At Rumah Konservasi Kunang-Kunang in Taro Village, we have observed El Nino’s direct effects on fireflies from August to October 2023. Data from our nursery shows that temperature spikes and humidity drops correlate with high larval mortality.
For example, on October 20, 2023, when temperatures reached 33°C with 52% humidity, 6 larvae moulted but 4 died. Similar patterns occurred on October 13, October 16, and October 28, with varying moulting, death, and missing larvae counts.

How Weather Affects the Firefly Life Cycle

Air temperature and humidity directly affect larval moulting, death rates, and pupal development. Warm temperatures speed up the larva-to-pupa transition, while extreme heat shortens adult lifespans.
Fireflies spend most of their life underground in the larval stage, maturing in spring and emerging in early summer. Climate conditions during these early stages are crucial. Changes in soil moisture, temperature, and rainfall can influence their survival and abundance for years.

Conclusion

El Nino’s impact on fireflies is a warning sign of broader ecological damage. Protecting their habitats means protecting clean air, water, and soil. Continued research and conservation efforts are essential to ensure that these glowing indicators of environmental health remain a part of Bali’s biodiversity.

CITATION :

Evans, Tracy & Salvatore, Donald & van de Pol, Martijn & Musters, Cornelis. (2018). Adult firefly abundance is linked to weather during the larval stage in the previous year: Firefly abundance and weather. Ecological Entomology. 44. 10.1111/een.12702.

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