Fireflies are sometimes called lightning bugs. Many a child has spent a summer evening chasing them. And maybe you’ve wondered how and why these insects are able to light up? The answer is that the light of a firefly is a chemical reaction caused by an organic compound in their abdomens.
The compound is called luciferin. As air rushes into a firefly’s abdomen, it reacts with the luciferin, and a chemical reaction gives off the firefly’s familiar glow. This light is sometimes called “cold light” because it generates so little heat. The firefly can regulate the airflow into the abdomen to create a pulsating pattern.
Did you ever do this? Image via Flickr user jamelah e.
Some experts think the firefly’s flashy style may warn predators of the insect’s bitter taste. On the other hand, some frogs don’t seem to mind. They eat so many fireflies that they themselves begin to glow. Male fireflies also light up to signal their desire for mates, and willing females attract the males with flashes of their own.
“Fireflies on top of the wave of grass and overflowing. Biggest firefly show in years.” Image via Eileen Claffey in West Brookfield, Massachusetts, June 2015.
But not all the flashing of fireflies is motivated by romance. While each firefly species has its own pattern of flashing, some females imitate the patterns of other species. Males land next to them, only to be eaten alive.
Cool firefly photo – a 30-second exposure – from astrophotographer Tom Wildoner. Astrophotographers often capture fireflies when trying to photograph the night sky.
So the next time you see a firefly, keep in mind that its flickering isn’t just a wonder of the night. It’s also a unique love language … that can be deadly.
You can see what looks like trails made by fireflies, via long-exposure photography from Jack Fusco Photography. There’s also a single meteor in the upper left of this photo. See it? It’s straighter than the firefly trails.
Bottom line: Fireflies – aka lightning bugs – light up because of a chemical reaction between an organic compound in the fireflies’ abdomens – called luciferin – and the air.
The MonoRacer 130E Fully Enclosed Motorcycle Aims to Redefine Personal Mobility Elena Gorgan The idea of making something that would be halfway between a bicycle or motorcycle and a car is not new; after all, the advantages of such a vehicle would be many for a large segment of the market. In the Czech Republic, inventor, fabricator and full-time pilot Arnold Wagner has been making one such vehicle since the late ‘80s. Since 2009, with a new partner, he launched the PERAVES CZ company, and they’ve been putting out these cabin-motorcycles dubbed MonoRacer since then. They probably haven’t sold more than a couple of hundred of them (90 of which were made before the 2009 partnership), but that could change as early as this month. As it turns out, PERAVES CZ has made an electric version of the MonoRacer, called the MonoRacer 130E, and it is now in the process of receiving EU-certification. The MonoRacer 130E is an electric motorcycle with a fully enclosed cabi...
Many who used to visit here regularly also would visit Kat's forum. Now she has opted to say goodbye. Why? Disqus isn't what it used to be, and traffic has crawled to almost a stop. https://countrykatnc.blogspot.com/2026/05/its-finally-friday-and-final-thread.html I have been taking the last couple of months to contemplate what I want to do with this forum. I think it's time for me to step away as well. Reasons are multiple. Mainly the loss of old friends, Susan and milo but others as well that, when I check their profiles, have been inactive for months, some for a year or two. Never heard why. Just stopped coming here or anywhere on Disqus. Lack of enthusiasm and participation has been evident as well. That includes my lack of enthusiasm. I am NOT blaming anyone. I can't advertise this forum so newbies are rare. Regulars have either gone away or drop in and leave a comment or two - often, it seems, out of habit. Back n forth conversations don't happen much any mor...
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