As summer winds down in the mountains, so does the season for fireflies. To help us bid both the season and these iconic insects adieu, today we’re looking at some stats + facts about these luminous lightning bugs.

What are they?

Fireflies — or lightning bugs, as many folks in WNC call them — are neither bugs nor flies, but rather soft-bellied beetles whose lower bodies light up from a chemical reaction. This kind of light production is known as bioluminescence.
There are around 2,000 firefly species on the planet, with 30-40 species identified in North Carolina and at least 19 species identified in + around WNC, the most popular being the synchronous + blue ghost fireflies.

Why do fireflies glow?

While some folks think fireflies light up as a defense mechanism intended to warn predators that they taste bad and will leave a bad taste in a predator’s mouth, the primary reason they light up is to attract mates (can you blame them?).
Each species lights up differently. Some, like the blue ghost, glow rather than flash. Those that flash can have different flash sequences, while others flash in unison.

Other than beauty, what is their function?

Fireflies provide food for other creatures. Firefly larvae, known as glow worms (not to be confused with Glo Worms), are specialized predators that feed on insects on the forest floor that would otherwise come for these flashy invertebrates.
Mills River-based wildlife educator Carlton Burke says fireflies also act as good indicators of what’s going on in a given habitat. Not only do they help maintain delicate ecosystems, their sensitivity to things like herbicides and pesticides can help encourage sustainable environmental practices.