Fireflies light up summer nights
Fireflies create fields of floating stars, nature’s fireworks on summer nights.
They capture our imagination and bring back childhood memories of letting them light on fingertips and capturing them in mason jars.
But what are fireflies? They aren’t flies at all, but a type of beetle in the family Lampyridae from the Greek “to shine.” How apropos.
Their glow is pure alchemy, a reaction between oxygen and a chemical called luciferin stored in their abdomens. Fireflies can flash red, yellow, orange or green.
It’s light without heat, a most efficient lighting system. An incandescent light bulb emits 10 percent of its energy as light. Fireflies boast almost 100 percent.
Just like Rudolph, fireflies have blinking beacons. They flash their lights on and off in patterns unique to each species.
Science has yet to explain this Morse code since all other luminescent creatures glow steadily. Fireflies have rhythm.
This light show helps fireflies find friends, potential mates with whom they can make more fireflies.
At night, a female firefly crawls to the tip of a blade of grass. A male hovers nearby. He flashes. She flashes. Their buggy eyes meet and true love ensues.
The Photuris “femme fatale” firefly mimics the flashing pattern of another species’ female in order to lure in unsuspecting males which they eat. It’s a tough dating world out there.
Female fireflies lay eggs in the ground. Larvae (youngsters) live in moist places, often tucking under bark and decaying vegetation as they feedon worms, slugs and snails.
Adult fireflies feed on nectar, pollen, soft-bodied insects such as aphids and sometimes each other. Some species do not eat at all as adults, their minds on only one thing.
Predators tend to avoid snacking on fireflies. They apparently taste bad and predators learn to associate their flashing with a nasty aftertaste.
There are about 2,000 firefly species worldwide. Several call our Eastern U.S. home. They are attracted to wet or damp areas and tall grass. They love my meadow.
Not all fireflies glow. Western fireflies – the ones that wear boots and spurs – often don’t light up. However, some species’ eggs and larvae glow, inspiring the nickname of glowworm.
Several signs point to declining firefly populations. Most likely this is due to pesticide use, loss of habitat and light pollution.
Fields, forests and marshes are disappearing and waterways are becoming polluted. Development brings bright lights at night which fireflies don’t tolerate well.
You can help encourage fireflies by avoiding pesticides and herbicides and turning off outside lights at night.
Build good firefly habitat by planting native trees and adding water features. Let some fallen leaves and logs lie and set aside an area for taller grasses.
Fireflies possess lightning in a bottle, an endearing glow that earns them the name, lightning bug. May they light up your summer nights and help you recapture some childhood joy.
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