Fireflies are the garden beetle species that have more than 2,000 species in the world. They are the soft-bodied beetles that emit light to attract their mates or their prey. They are known as fireflies, lightning bugs, and glowworms that emits a clod light without IR or UV frequencies. The light is produced by a chemical reaction that is yellow, green, or pale red and have their wavelengths from 510 to 670 Nanometres. They are commonly found in temperate and tropical climates usually in wet, and wooden areas where their larvae have the sources of food. There are many types of fireflies that differ in colour, size, and shape and the size of the largest firefly will be 25 mm. In this article, we will discuss the 6 unknown facts about fireflies.
6 Unknown Facts about Fireflies
These fireflies are attractive during nighttime, and they can emit a natural light with the rise of chemical reactions in their body. They will emit the light to attract their partner for reproduction and to attract its prey. Below are some of the scientific and unknown facts about fireflies.
- Fireflies are not flies
- Fireflies are Efficiency Superstars
- Firefly Flashes
- Use their light to Ward off Predators
- Fireflies can eat other fireflies
- Humans are Contributing to Fireflies
Fireflies are not flies
The fireflies are considered as Lampyridae family, and the name comes from the Greek word ‘lampein’ which means light. These are actually beetles, and some types of flies are diurnal in that they do not glow. Some of the fireflies are winged, that are separated from the luminescent insects of the same family, and they are called as glowworms.
Fireflies are Efficiency Superstars
Though there are more than 2000 species, that has the name of firefly, not all the species can glow. These fireflies use oxygen by mixing with a chemical called luciferin to generate light with less heat. The light produced by some of the flies is the most efficient that utilizes the complete chemical reaction and become the most efficient light in the world.
Firefly Flashes
There are a number of fireflies and each species have their own lighting pattern. The male flies usually produce light to attract the female flies, some of the males can blink one time and some of the species can blink up to nine times. The female species wait for the perfect and attracted to light, and if they like the specified pattern, the female flies will blink one time. This is known as a species-specific lighting pattern.
Use their Light to Ward off Predators
Fireflies naturally have a defensive chemical called lucibufagins which is not good for the predators to eat. When the predators try to eat one firefly, the lucibufigans will generate and produces an unpleasant taste this will make the predators not to eat fireflies in the future.
Fireflies can eat other fireflies
The larvae of the fireflies are predaceous, and they feed on slugs and worms. Most of the fireflies are carnivorous throughout their adulthood, so they will eat other types of fireflies to have the necessary proteins.
Humans are Contributing to Fireflies
If you do not see as many fireflies found in the past, then you can notice that they are on the deadline. Fireflies do not have the habit of relocating, if their habitation is overtaken, they will die soon. The fireflies are decreasing due to light pollution, and artificial insemination.