Facts about the Firefly

Firefly Facts

Fireflies are also known as lightning bugs! How many of you love the firefly and their magical lights? Seeing a field of fireflies lighting up the dark night is such a magical and mystifying sight. Did you know they are in the beetle family? There are over 1800 different types of lightning 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.

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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 forests, and near water sources like ponds and lakes.

3. Fireflies can be found on almost every continent 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. One North American firefly species 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 various colors, such as yellow, orange, green, and greenish-yellow. If you are lucky enough to live in Asheville, North Carolina, you can spot a rare firefly known as the Blue Ghost Firefly. However, you have to be quick; they only appear for two to four weeks in the summer. The Blue Ghost Firefly glows blue with white hues and can stay glowing for up to a minute.

8. Fireflies are beneficial to humans because scientists study their 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 ensure books are child-friendly before reading them to their/children.