Whether we like it or not, summer is ending. Our least favorite part about summer is the bugs, but there’s a bug we’re actually fond of and are going to miss seeing light up our Greenville skies at night.

Fireflies or lightning bugs — whichever you call them — always make that evening summertime air feel a little more magical. Before we officially say goodbye to these critters and the “starry nights” they provide, we thought we’d give you some fast facts about these little critters.

What are they?

Fireflies 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.

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 fireflies, 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, are specialized predators that feed on insects on the forest floor that would otherwise come for these flashy invertebrates. NC-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.

So, there you have it. Be sure to keep spending your nights outside to continue hearing the summer song of the cicadas and basking in the glow of the lightning bugs.

Poll

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