Summer means fireworks and fireflies.
Most of us call them fireflies or lightening bugs but they are really a type of beetle with an amazing ability to glow. Their scientific name is Lampyridae, meaning “shining fire” in Latin.
This year, Nature’s Fireworks are in abundance and give children and adults hours of backyard entertainment every night. Similar to other insects, the population of fireflies fluctuates every year due to rainfall, temperature, food sources, and predators. They are a sign of a very healthy ecosystem.
There are over 2,000 species of fireflies in the world. At first, you may not notice any difference between them. But look very closely and you will see a unique flash pattern, similar to Morse code, dot – dash – dot or dot – dot – dot. They also may emit yellow, green or even orange light.
One species has 11 pair of green lights on its back and a pair of red lights on its head. Now that is a light show!
The light the beetle produces is “cold light”, almost 100% of the energy produced is light. This may not seem very significant. Yet, keep in mind that 10% light is emitted from an incandescent light bulb and 90% of the energy is heat. When you watch a firefly you are witnessing a chemical reaction. When a substance called luciferin (stored in the beetles light organ) is combined with oxygen in the presence of enzymes, light is produced. The firefly controls the light by letting in more or less oxygen in their light organs.
So why do they light up?? It’s all about finding a mate.
Adult fireflies flash a very specific coded message to attract a mate of their own firefly species. For one firefly species, the male only flashes between sunset and one half hour after sunset. The male hovers over grassy areas while he flashes his code every 3.5 seconds and the female hides in low vegetation, if she is interested she will return the flash every 30 seconds. After exchanging flashes 8 to 10 times, the male finds the female and “lights out.”
Adulthood only lasts approximately 2 weeks, so courtships are fast and furious. Young fireflies don’t look or act anything like adults. They have a spindly shaped body that glows continuously and live underground. They feast on slugs, snails, and grubs by injecting a toxin that paralyzes and liquefies their prey.
They are an important contributor to the health of your lawn and garden. Fireflies do more than light up the sky. They produce luciferin and luciferase, which are rare chemicals that scientists have not been able to make synthetically. Injection of the firefly’s chemicals can quickly detect energy problems. This is used in the detection and treatment of cancer, heart disease, and even waste water treatment. Your backyard has fascinating creatures.
Take the time to sit and enjoy “nature’s fireworks” in your own backyard.
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