Fireflies
In the darkness of night, glowworms float and flicker in the warm summer sky.
Do you have fireflies where you live? Some people call them lightening bugs. What other animals and insects come out at night?
Do you have fireflies where you live? Some people call them lightening bugs. What other animals and insects come out at night?
The most common fireflies are nocturnal and belong to the family of winged beetles. Also known as glow worms and lightening bugs, they like warmth and moisture and are often found in marshes, along river banks or in wet, wooded areas.
The light that fireflies emit is produced by a chemical reaction called bioluminescence. The insects' light attracts mates but also provide a measure of safety, acting as a warning signal to ward off certain predators looking for something to eat. The fireflies' light can be yellow, green or pale red. It may be a steady light or intermittent, flashing on and off.
If you have fireflies, you can help them in their nighttime journey by turning off the porch lights and garden lights so the fireflies can find in each other in the dark!
The light that fireflies emit is produced by a chemical reaction called bioluminescence. The insects' light attracts mates but also provide a measure of safety, acting as a warning signal to ward off certain predators looking for something to eat. The fireflies' light can be yellow, green or pale red. It may be a steady light or intermittent, flashing on and off.
If you have fireflies, you can help them in their nighttime journey by turning off the porch lights and garden lights so the fireflies can find in each other in the dark!