What Makes Fireflies Light Up?
When fireflies light up, they are producing a chemical reaction within their bodies called bioluminescence. This production of light is the result of oxygen combining with calcium and the chemicals adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and luciferin in the presence of the enzyme luciferase. Without the bioluminescent enzyme luciferase, the light could not be produced.
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Bioluminescence
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According to Marc Branham, Assistant Professor of the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida, fireflies produce a chemical reaction inside their bodies that permit them to create flashes of light. He defines this type of production of light as bioluminescence. In fact, he says that the method used by the firefly in order to produce light is perhaps one of the best known examples of bioluminescence (a light that does not produce any heat).
The Importance of Oxygen
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The light that a firefly produces occurs in his light organ only when oxygen is available. Because insects, in general, and fireflies, in particular, do not have lungs, oxygen is transported from outside their bodies to their inner cells by way of a series of tubes called tracheoles. After entering the body's cells, oxygen first binds itself to the surface of the mitochondria (energy-producing organelles in the cells) in order to be transported to the light organ. However, oxygen can't be transported unless nitric acid is present.
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The Role of Nitric Acid
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Nitric acid plays a primary role in the number of flashes and the intensity of flashes made by a firefly. When oxygen binds to the mitrochondria in the presence of nitric acid, it's able to flow to the firefly's light organ and combine with other chemicals to produce bioluminescence or light.
Luciferase--A Key Component
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To produce light, oxygen combines with calcium, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and luciferin in the presence of luciferase, a bioluminescent enzyme. The chemical reaction is sparked and light is produced because of the presence of the bioluminescent enzyme luciferase.
Patterns of Flashes
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Fireflies emit flashes of light that are unique to their species. They use flashes to identify members of their species and to attract other fireflies for mating purposes.
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References
- Photo Credit firefly night art image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com
