Summer is a wonderful time of year! The days are long, we can enjoy lots of yummy frozen treats, and it’s the perfect time to go outside in the warm evenings to look for fireflies. If you’ve ever seen fireflies, you might have wondered how they make their bright yellowish glow and why they light up. Let’s explore these amazing creatures and learn more about them!
Fireflies are known by different names. In the United States, some people call them lightning bugs, and in Europe, they might be called glowworms. But these names aren’t very accurate because fireflies aren’t flies, bugs, or worms. They’re actually beetles! This means they’re related to animals like ladybugs and Japanese beetles.
Like many beetles, fireflies go through a process called metamorphosis, which is a series of changes during their life cycle. Fireflies start as eggs. Female fireflies lay their eggs underground, where they hatch into larvae. Both the eggs and larvae can glow, just like adult fireflies. After about a year, the larvae enter the pupa stage, where they transform into the adult fireflies we recognize. Once they become adults, fireflies live for only a month or two, just long enough to reproduce and lay eggs to start the cycle again.
What fireflies eat depends on their life stage. As larvae, they live underground and eat things like snails and slugs. Adult fireflies enjoy pollen and nectar from flowers, and sometimes they even eat other fireflies. Some adult fireflies don’t eat at all, possibly because they live for such a short time.
Fireflies have a special body part under their abdomen that creates light. When oxygen from the air enters this part of their body, it mixes with special chemicals, causing the firefly to glow. This glow is called bioluminescence, which means light coming from a living thing. Scientists know how this works, but they’re still studying how fireflies can turn their light on and off in specific patterns.
Fireflies flash their lights for a few reasons. First, the flashing might warn predators to stay away because their glowing bodies taste bad. Flashing is also a way for fireflies to communicate with each other. The blinking pattern might tell other fireflies not to get too close to their homes or help them identify each other. Sometimes, the flashing is a signal to attract a mate.
Fireflies are really fun to catch! If you decide to catch them, make your yard and house as dark as possible. This will help you see their lights more clearly and encourage them to flash more often. If you use a flashlight, keep it pointed at the ground so you don’t scare them away. Be gentle when catching fireflies because they’re delicate. It’s best to admire them up close and then let them go, as they don’t live very long. Summer is their time to shine, so enjoy watching them!
Happy firefly season, and enjoy your summer! If you have any questions or want to learn more, feel free to reach out to us. See you later!
