When I first visited the Eastern United States, I was mesmerized by the fireflies. I had never seen one in real life and when I first saw the little lights moving above the grass at dusk, I didn't know if it was an illusion or not. Well, it's firefly season again and Juan just caught a glimpse of one for the first time the other day. He was so excited! Nature is the most interesting subject to me; I think that is the reason I chose Horticulture as my major in college. The idea of growing something as big as a tree from a seed the size of my fingernail is a phenomenal process. Plants don't even have brains, yet they have adapted themselves to their conditions by changing colors and even their own anatomy. I was interested in learning more about fireflies and so I went online (here). This is what I learned:
- Fireflies "light up" because they are warning possible predators that they hold defensive chemicals in their bodies. (Well, this is a theory, because nobody really knows.)
- Their light is actually produced by a chemical reaction that they have control over.
- 100% of the energy given off by a firefly is actually light, whereas only 10% of energy produced in a household lightbulb is actually light; the remaining 90% is given off as heat.
- Not all fireflies are created equally. Some species can't give off light.
- In mating season, fireflies use "flash patterns" to attract a mate.
It was interesting to me at least.
6 comments:
That was very cool to learn. I had never seen fireflies until we went to Philly last year. We sat on the porch in Lancaster and watched them until it got too chilly to stay there.
That was interesting to me too! Dave and I were watching the fireflies the other night and we were wondering if they had control over their light or not, so thanks for doing the research for me! I LOVE firefly season!!!
Interesting stuff...K your bathing suit post, I was dying laughing because you are tiny so I don't know what you are freaking out about...I have found some way cute bathing suits on www.newport-news.com and they aren't expensive. I bought 3 last summer for $70 and they all worked fine
I love fireflies! When I was a kid we used to smash them on our arms and legs so we would glow too- you should try it!
Down here they call them lightening bugs (well okay I think lightening bugs are the same thing as Fireflies however I have never researched it) I love sitting on our deck at night and watching them.
I grew up with fireflies and LOVE and MISS them so much. Another interesting fact - when I was little my neighbors would pull off the firefly's bum and write their names with it on the sidewalk. Their names would glow for a minute. Also, they would pull off the firefly bum and make a necklace that would glow as well. So basically, I had some pretty morbid neighbors!
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