Fireflies - Summer Twilight Twinkle

Summer twilight unfolds amid the twinkling of fireflies mingled with children, laughter and glass jars. Kids have a special affection for lightning bugs. The mysterious blink on a living creature stirs up wonder in a child. The insects are so interesting to young ones that a group of third grade students were instrumental in the 1974 decision to name the firefly Pennsylvania's special insect.

Fireflies in our state are bioluminaries seen most often at night. Through a chemical reaction the bugs are able to produce light. Light is the main attraction to the insects for a diverse group of people including young children and well-educated adults. Our state insect tells many engaging stories about nature.

In 1988, fourteen years after congress declared the firefly our state insect, one species in particular was officially designated the title as state insect; Photuris Pennsylvanicas. Over 200 species of fireflies inhabit the earth. Each species has slight differences that make them unique in their individual species.

Science has learned that the blinking light of the firefly is a complex courtship ritual between the male and female insects. Different species will hold the blink longer than others and different times can be measured between the twinkle of certain species. Adults may live only one to two weeks, so survival depends upon mating during this stage of life, but the mating ritual can be deadly. Some species of lightning bugs have the ability of mimicry. These insects mimic the blinks of other species of females to attract their male species. Once the mate is caught, the female will devour the male.

Fireflies are carnivorous that belong to the beetle family. Adults will feed upon insects. Larvae feed mostly on worms, snails and slugs. Many species of lightning bugs produce an unpleasant tasting chemical that deters predators from eating them.

Our state insect is unique because it glows in the egg, larvae and pupae phases of life. Knowledge about how the firefly produces the light that makes it glow can be broken down into a chemical process involving Luciferin, Luciferase, ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and oxygen. Unless you have an interest in bioluminaries, the process may appear as merely scientific jargon for the average nature enthusiast. On the contrary, there is a market for Luciferin, and current research may change your future.

Only recently scientists uncovered the mystery about how a firefly controls it's on/off switch that makes it glow. Research involving lightning bugs still continues in earnest. For a mere $990.00, one gram of D-Luciferin can be purchased. If you wonder what researchers might be doing with all that lightning bug juice, take a quick look at a possible holiday celebration in the future. For most, a glass mayonnaise jar and a quiet evening will suffice.

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