Koyagawa and Otozuregawa Firefly (Genji Botaru) Breeding Area

The Genji Firefly is Japan's representative large firefly, glowing softly by clear streams on early summer nights. Its larvae live in water and feed on freshwater snails. It has declined in many places through water pollution and riverbank works, but conservation efforts continue. "The Genji fireflies of Nagaoka and their breeding site" in Maibara, Shiga, is a Special Natural Monument, and many other sites across Japan are also Natural Monuments.