Uncle Gao photographed the fireflies first. Courtesy of respondents
A sample of fireflies made by Uncle Gao first. Photo by Du Jiaobing
□ all-media reporter of Sichuan Rural Daily
Du Jiaobing Intern Zhong Xinran
In Qionglai Tiantai Mountain, there is a famous "worm king" - Gao Shuxian. This person has been lying day and night all year round, walking between the mountains and the night. The reason why he is called "Worm King" is because he has been dealing with a group of elves on this mountain for many years, fireflies, so many people call him the "shepherd firefly" of Tiantai Mountain.
Recently, the reporter met Gao Shuxian in the Tiantai Mountain Scenic Area of Qionglai City.
"Now is not the time, the first wave of firefly viewing peak period has passed, plus today is the night of the full moon, the moonlight is too strong, fireflies will not be active." As soon as they met, Uncle Gao first "poured a basin of cold water" on the reporter. How can I see fireflies? The reporter walked into Tiantai Mountain with Uncle Gao.
Silent nocturnal walkers
"I'm a perennial night shifter." Uncle Gao first teased himself, "Like fireflies, it is also my habit to go out day and night. ”
The reporter noticed that Uncle Gao always carried a heavily worn black belt bag with him, and he was always bulging. When I opened it, I saw outdoor items such as headlamps, flashlights, charging treasures, knives, and many large and small medicine bottles that he used as specimen bottles, filled with different varieties of firefly specimens collected.
"This is a yellow edge firefly, the edges are yellow; this is a flat firefly, the female is very large, and the personality is more ferocious; this is just a sacred wood firefly, a winter firefly, the number is very small; this is a multi-point firefly, and there are many glowing parts..." Uncle Gao first took out these treasured "treasures" and introduced them one by one.
Tiantai Mountain Scenic Area is located at the southwest end of Qionglai City, where the Danxia landform is rich in changes and the streams and waterfalls are scattered among them. Good natural conditions allow fireflies to thrive here and become a unique landscape. Today, there are more than 20 species of fireflies living here, and it is known as "the largest ecological firefly viewing base in Asia".
"There's one here!" At about 8 p.m. that night, the reporter quickly found a firefly glowing cold green. "There's one more here!" In the darkness, countless crystalline points of light flickered, drawing a light trajectory in the night sky.
The reporter noticed that Uncle Gao first entered the "territory" of the firefly and became silent, and the headlamp on his head was only turned on when necessary, and then turned off immediately. "Fireflies are very sensitive, especially for light, and we try not to disturb it."
Walking like this on the mountain road at night, Uncle Gao has been walking for more than ten years. Since 2007, Uncle Gao has been devoted to the protection of fireflies. For the cause, Uncle Gao first explained to the reporter: "I accidentally fell in love with fireflies." ”
At first, the original firefly population in Tiantai Mountain was limited, so Uncle Gao first ran to various places to find new fireflies and carefully brought them back to breed. "At that time, I always rode a motorcycle late at night, went to the surrounding districts and counties to find fireflies, plunged into the ravine, and when I came home, it was often the middle of the night." In order to track a newly discovered unknown firefly, sometimes it is a night.
Persistent "Light Chaser"
"I think light is the language of fireflies, and the light emitted by different fireflies has different spectra and different flicker frequencies, just like our human voices." Uncle Gao said first.
The reporter noticed that the specimen bottles that Uncle Gao first used to hold the "baby" were almost all large and small transparent medicine bottles. The source of these medicine bottles is inseparable from his father and mother.
Uncle Gao first drove a seven-seater car, which was stacked with many daily necessities. No matter where he went, the co-pilot's seat was occupied by his father for many years, and his mother always accompanied him. Uncle Gao's father has been paralyzed for 30 years, has had multiple episodes of cerebral hemorrhage, and has been in a state of dementia most of the time. When her mother was in good health, she could still take care of her father alone, and now she is also suffering from coronary heart disease, bone hyperplasia, cervical and lumbar spondylosis, and it is difficult to walk. All the burdens fell on Uncle Gao's shoulders. In the dark night, when Uncle Gao plunged into the ravine first, his parents often watched the fireflies flying in the night and waited lonely.
"The happiest thing is to find fireflies that I've never seen before." More than ten years have passed, and Uncle Gao is still full of enthusiasm and expectation for this beautiful forest. From the initial search for fireflies around him to the present, Uncle Gao has first explored the technique of population hybridization. "Prepare more than a dozen plastic pots and gauze nets, feed the hatched larvae for a week or so, and make sure there are no problems before returning to nature." Through a series of artificial interventions such as hybrid breeding and bait feeding, the number and population of fireflies in Tiantai Mountain have been significantly improved.
"The fireflies in Tiantai Mountain peak five times a year, with the first wave in mid-April and the second wave during may day." Uncle Gao told reporters, "Many people think that fireflies are only available in summer, but in fact, they are not, such as the shenmu fireflies found in the past one or two years, which can glow in winter." Speaking of the new discovery of fireflies, Uncle Gao was very proud.
Nowadays, with the joint efforts of many forces such as scenic spots and social organizations, fireflies have become a unique local tourism resource, and countless firefly enthusiasts and tourists have come to enjoy this beautiful "little elf".
"The life of a firefly is a life of light and freedom, even if it can only shine for a week or two." Holding a petite firefly in his hand, Uncle Gao was careful first.