 Fireflies - Nature's Nightlight
My sense of wonder always expands when I see the tiny flashing lights of fireflies. I am transported back to my childhood when we would spend warm evenings watching them flash above the meadow. Now is the time to start watching for them as you are on evening strolls, camping, or sitting on the porch.
It is the male firefly that flashes from the air. His flash is the beginning of a communication with any female that sees it and replies. Look for the stationary flashes of females among grasses and bushes. Once a male and female locate each other they will flash back and forth for awhile. If all goes well, it will lead to the male and female pairing up to mate.
Each kind (species) of firefly has its own flash pattern. And, since several species may be sharing the same area, the unique flashes help each find its own kind to mate with.
Most fireflies do not eat as adults, but the female of the genus Photuris does - and in a rather gruesome way! She uses her flash to mimic other kinds of female fireflies and lures males to her. If a male comes close enough, she will catch and eat it! By eating the male she gains foul-tasting toxins that will enter and protect the eggs she lays from being eaten by predators.
Interesting Facts:
- Lightening Bug is another name for the firefly.
- Fireflies are neither a flies or a bugs, but are beetles.
- Adults fireflies live only a few weeks - just long enough to find a mate and lay eggs.
- Most of their life is spent as a caterpillar (the larval stage). This stage may last up to two years.
- Firefly larvae do not flash, but they glow! Have you ever heard of a glow worm? Many of us remember the glow worm song from Sunday morning cartoons and the instructions to sing along... just follow the bouncing ball!
- There are over 2,000 kinds of fireflies and they live worldwide - on every continent but Antarctica.
Activities for Children and the Young at Heart
- Watch for fireflies at night. Count and record the number and pattern of flashes. Each kind of firefly has a unique flash pattern. How many different kinds of fireflies do you see?
- Watch this 2-minute National Geographic video about the fireflies at Great Smokey Mts. National Park.
- Check out Firefly.org to see amazing photos and learn more about fireflies.
- Play the firefly game using flashlights and your own flash patterns as version of hide and seek at night. Cover each player's flashlight lens with red cellophane, or add a red lens or lightbulb, so that wildlife will not be disturbed and your eyes will stay adjusted to night vision. Play first with all players as one species of firefly - so you'll have just one flash pattern to agree on and remember. One person is selected to be the Searching Firefly and stays in the middle of the play area. The other players "hide" around the play area but must be able to see the Searching Firefly. Game begins when the Searching Firefly points its flashlight in one direction and makes the flash pattern. Any player firefly that is in the pointed direction must flash the pattern back. Searching Firefly can then take 10 giant steps in the direction of any of the player fireflies that responded, then flash again. The player fireflies must remain still and quiet. As the Searching firefly gets closer, each time allowed up to ten giant steps after a flash, a single firefly will become obviously pointed to. Once the Searching firefly gets within arms-reach of a player firefly, the game starts over with the found player becoming the Searching Firefly and the previous searcher becomes a player. Once you are familiar with the game, assign two or more species of firefly. The Searching Firefly may use any of the species patterns to call to the fireflies. Only those in the pointed direction and assigned the flashed pattern respond. Play and see if there are other fun ways to change up this game!
- Try to photograph a firefly. If you get a good shot, send it my way and I'll share it in a future Nature Note.
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