No deal? No harm! Chinese companies ban onlines sales, shipping of fireflies

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In a move that shines a bright light on the changing attitudes in China towards animal rights, e-commerce platform Taobao and courier service SF express have banned the sales and shipment of fireflies – a favorite gift among lovers on Valentine's Day and an in-demand request among urban children.

Taobao, the country's largest e-commerce with 695 million users shopping with a few clicks on their mobile phones, halted the sales and closed down all accounts selling the glowing bugs in May citing, but news came to light this week.

The platform cited lack of regulations that ensure the ethical handling of these fireflies.

A villager is catching fireflies at night. /Xinhua Photo

"We will not regard live fireflies as farmed," read a statement released by Taobao in announcing its decision to end firefly sales.

"Industry regulations are too local and we are currently not able to set standards," it read.

Demand for fireflies has been on the rise in China – especially around romantic occasions. Forty-nine retailers were selling live fireflies on Taobao in 2016, according to a report by Xinhua News Agency – a 28.9 percent increase year on year.

The same year, more than six million fireflies were reportedly trafficked across the country with a fifth of them dying en route to customers.

A jar of fireflies waiting for to be sold. /Xinhua Photo

The sales of these bioluminescent beauties has led to a booming business, valued at between 600,000 and 1 million yuan, thriving at the expense of commercial and excessive catching of insects that are already facing a real threat of endangerment.

Sellers reportedly pay villagers as little as 0.5 yuan (7 cents) per insect, but sell them around two to five yuan (30 cents to 70 cents) online. Buyers typically purchase hundreds to be used in wedding ceremonies or attract traffic at theme parks.