Pictures of Fireflies

Fireflies are not flies at all, but they are kinds of beetles. They are also called lightning bugs. Fireflies are prevalent in damp shaded areas near the trunks of large trees. All these combine to give a greater number of fireflies. Fireflies are a fascinating and fun feature of the summer in the eastern half of the United States. The periodic winking of their taillights confirms that summer has fully arrived.

Fireflies are one of the great treats of a summer night. Few could watch the shimmering tapestry of lights, without being moved by it. Fireflies are very efficient; about 96 percent of the chemical reaction is converted to light energy. Compare that to a light bulb, which gives off only 10 percent of its energy as light while the rest is lost as heat. Fireflies are also sometimes called lightning bugs or glowworms. Common names can be confusing.

Fireflies are filled with a nasty tasting chemical called lucibufagens, and after a predator gets a mouthful, it quickly learns to associate the firefly's glow with this bad taste! So not only does the flashing help attract a mate, but it also warns predators to stay away. Fireflies are known only to grow where the water is pure, and because of this there are only a few places in modern Japan where you can see them. This also indicates that locations where there are fireflies, is where the water is purest. Fireflies are usually found east of the Rockies. The peak firefly time is in June and July, but many species don’t come out until late August or even September.

Fireflies are typically less than an inch long, and rather soft bodied for a beetle. The last two segments of their abdomen is normally lighter colored and this is the part that glows or flashes at dusk. Fireflies are small insects with lanterns that glow which you can hold in your hand, not ethereal gases or hovering luminescent discs. If you send me an email as an anonymous person about such a sighting it will be considered as such and probably not taken too seriously. Fireflies are a joy of summer, delightful to look at, and fun to catch. Fireflies are about half an inch long and very soft bodied.

Fireflies are not really "flies" as entomologists know them, but instead are beetles from the family Lampyridae. There are over 2000 species of fireflies living in the tropical and temperate regions of this world. Fireflies are found in a variety of habitats, especially forest edges, wooded backyards, and areas near streams or ponds. Some firefly species, however, are found in desert regions. Fireflies are compared to an adult's fingernail in the text, and photos throughout show a visual comparison to leaves of plants. The books in this series coordinate with educational science standards "related to diversity of life and heredity.".A glossary, an index, books with more information, and the safe Fact Hound internet site extend the learning of budding bug scientists.

Fireflies are well represented in temperate regions, although the majority of species are tropical and subtropical. They are nocturnal in their behavior, and males commonly fly about in the evening during early summer.