Awesome facts of Firefly which are commonly found in Kodagu (coorg) !!

Ever Wondered Why Fireflies Glow During Summer Nights? Here’s The Exact Reason!

Well, we all have seen the faint uncanny glow of fireflies especially in the summer nights. But did you ever wonder how do these insects light up during the under the moon shine? The process is kinda astonishing!

Typically seen as the summer time staple owing to their thriving power in warm and humid environment, there are around 2000 species of insects that glow in the night. That’s like a lot! Exotic Earth indeed!

But the question is what makes them glow? Here’s why:

Actually, they have a chemical locha . Yes! Fireflies produce a chemical reaction inside their bodies that cause them to shine. This process is called bio-luminescence. Okay, so this isn’t the same as a light bulb as it produces heat along with light, the fireflies emit cold light. Hmmm, so now we know why do not they catch fire when they are called ‘fireflies’. Anyway, let me enlighten you a bit over the process. When oxygen combines with calcium, Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and luciferin in the presence of luciferase, light is produced.

Nevertheless, scientists are still not sure of their blinking patterns. This somehow remains a mystery, as they are still not sure if the patterns are controlled by the fireflies’ organ or oxygen supply. But fortunately, they do know what these flashes are used for. And that’s something we should have guessed about! The fireflies emit light which work as signals to grab the attention of possible future mates. In fact, both male and female turn on their lights when selecting a mate, and some also suggest that blinking is their way of communicating with each other during courtship. You see the Love-Lust Chase thing is everywhere!

So, ya I assume now things are pretty clear with you all. Also, about that so called myth you had –

if you hold a firefly, it will eventually stop glowing because it has to fly in order to produce the energy which helps it emit light?

That isn’t true. They do not have to move in order to produce light, as suggested by Steven Haddock, bioluminescence Scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

So, the next time you see the fireflies, you would know – Chemical Locha hai Boss!

Fireflies talk to each other with light.

Fireflies emit light mostly to attract mates, although they also communicate for other reasons as well, such as to defend territory and warn predators away. In some firefly species, only one sex lights up. In most, however, both sexes glow; often the male will fly, while females will wait in trees, shrubs and grasses to spot an attractive male. If she finds one, she'll signal it with a flash of her own.

Fireflies produce “cold light.”

Firefly lights are the most efficient lights in the world—100% of the energy is emitted as light. Compare that to an incandescent bulb, which emits 10% of its energy as light and the rest as heat, or a fluorescent bulb, which emits 90% of its energy as light. Because it produces no heat, scientists refer to firefly lights as “cold lights.”

In a firefly's tail, you'll find two chemicals: luciferase and luciferin. Luciferin is heat resistant, and it glows under the right conditions. Luciferase is an enzyme that triggers light emission. ATP, a chemical within the firefly's body, converts to energy and initiates the glow. All living things, not just fireflies, contain ATP.

Firefly eggs glow.

Adult fireflies aren't the only ones that glow. In some species, the larvae and even the eggs emit light. Firefly eggs have been observed to flash in response to stimulus such as gentle tapping or vibrations.

Fireflies eat other fireflies.

Fireflies are primarily carnivorous. Larvae usually eat snails and worms. Some species of fireflies feed on other fireflies—most notable is the genus

photuris, which mimics female flashes of photinus , a closely related species, in order to attract and devour the males of that species. But adult fireflies have almost never been seen feeding on other species of bugs. Scientists aren't sure what they eat. They may feed on plant pollen and nectar, or they may eat nothing.

Fireflies have short lifespans.

An adult firefly lives only long enough to mate and lay eggs—so they may not need to eat during their adult life stage. The larvae usually live for approximately one year, from mating season to mating season, before becoming adults and giving birth to the next generation.

Fireflies imitate each other.

Female photuris aren't the only impostors among fireflies—the species is surprisingly devious when it comes to imitation. Sometimes male photuris imitate male photinus to attract females of their own species. She shows up looking for food, but instead he gets a mate.

Even more interesting, scientists believe some

photinus males imitate photuris females giving off bad impressions of photinus male flashes, scaring off other photinus males and reducing competition.

Fireflies are found on almost every continent.

Fireflies love warm, humid areas. Because of this, they thrive in tropical regions as well as temperate zones—they come out in the summertime in these environments—on all continents except Antarctica. Fireflies thrive in forests, fields and marshes near lakes, rivers, ponds, streams and vernal pools. They need a moist environment to survive.

Some species of firefly larvae are generally aquatic—they even have gills—while others live almost entirely in trees.

Fireflies are medically and scientifically useful.

The two chemicals found in a firefly's tail, luciferase and luciferin, light up in the presence of ATP. Every animal has ATP in its cells in amounts that are more or less constant—or should be. In diseased cells, the amount of ATP may be abnormal. If the chemicals from fireflies are injected into diseased cells, they can detect changes in cells that can be used to study many diseases, from cancer to muscular dystrophy.

But that's not all they're used for. Electronic detectors built with these chemicals have been fitted into spacecraft to detect life in outer space, as well as food spoilage and bacterial contamination on earth.

Fireflies don't make tasty prey.

When attacked, fireflies shed drops of blood in a process known as “reflex bleeding.” The blood contains chemicals that taste bitter and can be poisonous to some animals. Because of this, many animals learn to avoid eating fireflies. Pet owners should never feed fireflies

to lizards, snakes and other reptilian pets.
Source rvcj.in,firefly.org