Facts about the Firefly

Firefly Facts

Fireflies are also known as lightening bugs! How many of you love the firefly and their magical lights? It is such a magical and mystifying sight to see a field of fireflies lighting up the dark night. Did you know they are in the beetle family? There are over 1800 different types of lightening bugs. Fireflies use their light to communicate with other fireflies. The firefly gets the light on its abdomen from a chemical reaction caused by a compound called luciferin.

What is your favorite type of insect?

 

Facts about the Firefly:

1. The eggs from fireflies glow. The adult firefly lays its egg in moist soil near streams or ponds, and under leaves or mulch.

2. Fireflies prefer hot humid climates and can be found near open fields, outside of the forest, and near water sources like ponds and lakes.

3. Fireflies can be found on almost every continent in the world except Antarctica.

4. Not all species of the firefly glow.

5. Most fireflies come out during the hot humid summer months from May to November depending on the area they are in. There is one North American firefly species that is active in the winter. It is called the winter firefly.

6. Adult fireflies eat water, nectar, pollen, or other fireflies. Firefly larvae eat worms, slugs, and snails. Some fireflies don’t eat at all due to their short life span.

7. Fireflies from different species glow in different colors such as: yellow, orange, green, and greenish-yellow. If you are lucky enough to live in Asheville North Carolina you may be able to spot a rare firefly known as the Blue Ghost Firefly, but you have to be quick; they only appear for two to four weeks in the summer. The Blue Ghost Firefly glows a blue color with white hues and can stay glowing for up to a minute.

8. Fireflies are beneficial to humans because scientist study the fireflies rare chemicals luciferin and luciferase. The two rare chemicals are used in research on different diseases humans can have.

 

Can you share a fact about fireflies with us?

 

Books about fireflies:

1. Fireflies in the Night by Judy Hawes

2. Next Time You See a Firefly by Emily Morgan

3. It's a Firefly Night by Dianne Ochiltree

4. Fly, Firefly by Shana Keller

Parents make sure books are child friendly before reading them to your child/children.