![]() The patterns they use to find mates are so specialized for each species that missing a single blink is an issue. Our houses’ security lights, lamp posts, even indoor light that seeps outside at night makes it hard for fireflies to see. Insects need to breathe too!īut one of the top dangers to fireflies is light pollution. Holding them in a container without oxygen can even be life-threatening. Considering they have a short life span, every minute counts in searching for a mate. We have all accidentally terrorized fireflies Instead of glowing, they find each other using pheromone signals, lay eggs by spring and are gone before other species hit the scene in mid-June. In the fall, they seek places like bark to overwinter. While nearly all fireflies search for a mate in the summer, there is one species that is on a different schedule. Not a rescue that the trapped fireflies may have hoped for. Femme fatales have been recorded to steal other fireflies from spider webs. These predatory females have another unusual method of getting food. Femme fatales mimic the courtship patterns of other species, duping these males into coming closer. These species do eat as adults using trickery as a trap. “Photuris” is a group of fireflies that have rightfully earned the nickname, femme fatales. Some females trick males into being meals The fireflies you see this summer hatched in 2020 and will be the parents of fireflies that you will not see flashing until 2024. Using this stored energy, most adult fireflies do not eat at all they mate, lay eggs and die. All of this food will last the firefly for the rest of its life. They have insatiable hunger most of their time is spent hunting slugs, snails, and earthworms. Fireflies spend most of their life eatingįireflies spend up to two years in larval stage but only a couple of weeks as the flying, blinking adults we know. Mostly located in Asia, females can grow to the size of your palm! They are the biggest fireflies in the world. What you will not find in your yard are “Lamprigera”fireflies. Of those, 31 use the flashing patterns we find familiar. In Indiana, there are 43 species of fireflies. Those different types have overlapping ranges what you see in your yard is probably multiple species. Across the world, there are more than 2,000 species. You can find fireflies on every continent except Antarctica. There are a lot more fireflies than you think So, the nickname “lightning bug” isn’t all-encompassing of this insect. ![]() ![]() Instead, they use airborne scents to communicate. There are many species that do not use flashing for mating purposes. ![]() They recognize each other’s Morse code and ignore flashing patterns that do not match up. The blinking between the two is essentially a conversation which, if everything goes to plan, will result in mating.īut how does a female know she is interested in the right beetle? Each species of firefly has a unique flashing pattern. If she is intrigued, she will flash back. What you see is usually a male flashing a signal hoping for a female to see it. The slow strobe light of seemingly random blinking is actually a very specific and unique code to fireflies. More from Red-Tail Land Conservancy Who has the right of way on trails? What happens when bikes, hikers and horses meet Fireflies do not flash randomly As we wade through summer, here are seven fascinating firefly facts to share with friends and family as you watch their ephemeral twinkling dance. Despite a glowing reputation, they have a little-known dark side, too. They are the signature feature of fireflies. These lights aren’t mystical, but they are captivating. The only thing left to make it more perfect is seeing soft yellow blinking lights swirl above the ground, as if fairies were having one last hour of play before resting for the night. It is the epitome of a summer night in the Midwest. ![]() The sun sets, the air cools and the last wisps of smoky aroma from the grill wafts away. ![]()
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