How Do Fireflies Light Up at Night?
Contrary to their name, fireflies are not flies; they are actually beetles, and members of the family Lampyridae. Fireflies are unusual in their ability to make their thoraxes glow, making it appear that they have lights inside of them. They share this ability with glowworms. There are approximately 2,000 known species of firefly, each of which emits light in a different way that is unique to its species.
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The Light of Fireflies
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Fireflies produce their light because they contain a substance known as luciferin. When they intake oxygen, they are able to active cells in their abdomens that contain this substance. This activation creates a phosphorescent light which creates almost no heat.
The Chemistry of the Light
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Luciferin, a heat-resistant chemical, creates the light in a firefly when it is activated by luciferase, an enzyme that acts as a catalyst to the luciferin. A chemical in the body of the firefly known as ATP (adenosine triphosphate) energizes the interaction between luciferin and luciferase, causing the luciferin to light up.
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Reproduction
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Although there is much remaining to be learned about fireflies, it is believed that they use their light making ability as an aid in reproduction, as a means of identifying and attracting potential mates. This is probably the very reason for the existence of this ability in fireflies, as it evolved over millennia in certain individuals and conferred an evolutionary advantage.
Light Function
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Light patterns vary widely among species of fireflies; some species have no light at all, others emit a steady glow, while others flash intermittently and still others in pulsed patterns.
Mating Rituals
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In most species, the female fireflies perch on the ground or on grass and the males fly around them during the mating process. Some female fireflies will imitate the flash patterns of the females of other species, and when they attract a male of the other species, they will kill and eat him.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit firefly night art image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com
