How We Evaluate Firefly Evidence

Six evidence categories

Species identification policy

Photographic resemblance, tourist descriptions and regional occurrence are not enough. The local species remains Unknown until reliable identification is available. No page may imply “Ben Tre fireflies are Pteroptyx tener” or an equivalent claim.

Geographic transferability

Research from Malaysia, Thailand or elsewhere can explain what is possible in related Southeast Asian river environments. It cannot prove that the same species, display-tree preference, life cycle, seasonality or response occurs in Ben Tre. We use the phrase “similar associations have been documented elsewhere in Southeast Asia” where appropriate.

External data and causation

Weather, tide, moon and light data are stored with their source and kept separate from observer testimony. A repeated correlation can help form a hypothesis; it does not establish causation. “No obvious effect was noticed” cannot be rewritten as “there is no effect.”

Language, translation and provenance

Original Vietnamese field notes are retained beside a faithful English translation. Translation preserves the observer’s meaning without adding a species name, mechanism or scientific interpretation. Any editorial summary appears as a separate layer.

The local name bần remains bần in translation unless the observed tree is independently identified botanically.

First-party media policy

Authentic photographs and video can document that visible lights, vegetation and river conditions were recorded at a stated place by a stated contributor. They do not, by themselves, identify a firefly species, estimate abundance, verify a plant species, establish habitat dependence or prove a population trend.

Web derivatives may be cropped, resized, compressed or modestly corrected for exposure, noise and white balance. They may not add, remove or multiply lights; use generative fill; combine scenes; or create artificial trails. Captions disclose meaningful edits and uncertainty. Original masters are retained separately.

Commercial disclosure

Scientific and conservation sources used in this pilot