firefly funfacts

A lightening bug (or firefly) perched on a green leaf.

Fireflies are amazing insects! Did you know…?

• Fireflies and lightning bugs are the same thing! It’s just a different dialect and depends on where you grew up.
• Neither a fly nor a bug, fireflies are beetles in the order Coleoptera, family Lampyridae.
• There are 2,000 species of fireflies worldwide, 125 in North America, and 15+ in Pennsylvania.
• All fireflies emit some sort of bioluminescence at some point in their life cycle (every single firefly larva glows, aka “glow-worms”).
• There is fossil evidence of their light organ from 99 million years ago.
• Fireflies are diverse eaters; they can be cannibals, carnivores, and even nectar drinkers.
• Many fireflies exist in temperate, tropical habitats. In PA, you’ll find their peak is warm, humid nights in mid-June to early July. Once the night temps hit 60 F, they are less active.
• Adult fireflies only live for a few weeks. In their final moments, they will mate and lay eggs (when you’ll see their glow).
• Folklore incorporates fireflies as a spiritual symbol. Amazonian folklore tells that firefly light came from the gods, a symbol of hope and guidance. In Japanese legend, the light of two species represents ghosts of ancient warriors, or stars that left the sky to travel Earth. In Apache mythology, fire came to the people from trickster fox, who tried to steal it from the firefly village. Some cultures believe they are bad luck. In Victorian superstition, finding a firefly in your home meant someone would die soon.
• Fireflies glow through the enzyme luciferase, which catalyzes the oxidation of a luciferin, an organic substance, present in luminescent organisms.
• Scientists have employed luciferase to detect metabolic diseases, perform cancer research, test for life on Mars, in forensics, and to detect E. Coli and Salmonella in foods.
• Fireflies glow for different reasons, including warning of toxicity as larva, mating selection, and predation.
• The light produced by fireflies is the most efficient lighting in the world. It’s a cold light, emitting zero heat and no infrared or UV frequencies.
• Some things we can do to help dwindling and threatened firefly populations: plant native species; leave the leaves; reduce light pollution; avoid pesticides and herbicides.