How to Do Mating Calls to Lightning Bugs
Lightning bugs are also called fireflies. No matter what you call them, they are actually beetles that use a form of bioluminescence to attract mates. The female lightning bug sits in a stationary location and flashes the lights in her abdomen in a specific pattern. The male responds by flashing and flying toward the female. Each species of lightning bug has its own specific pattern. The key to attracting lightning bugs is to flash the same pattern as the female.
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Instructions
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Wait until nightfall, and go to a grassy open area where you've seen lightning bugs flashing.
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Turn off any strong lights in the area. Artificial light overwhelms the lightning bug signal.
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Focus on a specific stationary flash. The moving flashes are males flying around. The stationary flashes are females, which you want to mimic.
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Count to 20 while watching the female flash. Note which numbers she flashes on, and how long the flashes last. It may take a few cycles to get the pattern down.
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Turn your flashlight off and on in the same pattern. The males will soon come looking for you. They may land right on your flashlight.
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Tips & Warnings
You can put the male lightning bugs in a jar with air holes poked in the top.
Be sure to release the lightning bugs when you're done for the night. They won't survive if you try to keep them.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
