by Allie Coleman, Visitor Experience Intern
Lightning bugs, also called fireflies, are not simply bugs and are not flies. They are beetles! Fireflies are carnivorous. The adult fireflies signal each other with their lights and mate.
The summer evening light shows, that you see, are performed by male fireflies. They flash patterns of light to females. The females signal in response from perches in or near the ground. When the male sees the female's flash he continues to signal and moves closer. Eventually, through a series of flashes, they find each other and mate. Each species of firefly sends different mating signals. In fact, a beetle specialist or a keen observer can recognize most species by the number, duration, and time lapses between flashes. The light given off by fireflies during their abdominal flashes is called bioluminescence. It happens when oxygen and the organic compound, luciferin, react together in the presence of the enzyme, lucifereace. This creates light. Although other insects can produce light, fireflies are the only insects that can flash their light on and off in distinct signals. Even the eggs and larvae of some firefly species glow. That's where the name "glow worm" comes from.
For more information on fireflies and how you can help track their numbers and progress, visit www.mos.org/fireflywatch
