Nothing quite welcomes summer as the appearance of lightning bugs flashing their steady nearly melodic glow over the lawn or field. June and July are favorite months to see fireflies emerge from their areas of development: under logs in foliage or in mulchy areas. Some of the common names for this insect are fireflies, lightning bugs, glow worms, glow flies, fire devils, golden sparkler and moon bugs.
Did you know that the lightning bug is a beetle in the Lampyridae family that lives in the soil for around 1-3 years before emerging as adults and ready to give a great light show? When they are adults, many lightning bugs feed on pollen and nectar while other species are predators on smaller insects.
Certain species of lightning bugs can flash in synchronicity meaning that they all turn their lights on at the same time and blink together. While I have never seen this phenomenon, it has been documented in North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and other states. This phenomenon is not completely explained although some experts believe that it is a synchronized mating process. If one sees it, the experience is truly memorable!
What causes a firefly to light up? The process is called bioluminescence in which four chemicals combine with oxygen to produce a light producing enzyme…and this is another of nature’s wonders. The light produced is a cold light that is produced without any heat. Think about it, man can produce light but in doing so heat is produced. Cold light is fantastic! There is not waste in producing the light with nearly 100% of the chemical reaction’s energy becomes cool light.
Lightning bugs do have some predators. They do, however, have a defensive steroid (according to Scientific American) that makes them unappetizing to potential predators.
Lightning bugs have their place in folklore also. It has been said that in some European countries that if a lighting bug flies in a window, someone will die. In Japan it was believed that fireflies represented the souls of the dead. Some Native Americans smeared the glowing parts of the bug on their faces for decoration.
All the stories are interesting, but I think I will just sit back and enjoy memories of younger days watching thousands of the moon bugs, fireflies and lightning bugs light up the night.