Fireflies: The Real Tinkerbells Credit: Mike Lee One of the most enchanting sights of the season is the delicate light of Fireflies blinking in the night. Found on every continent around the world except Antarctica, these graceful little stars put on a magical show each year that would make even Tinkerbell jealous! If you've been lucky enough to see them, you'll know that fireflies or lightning bugs can be seen in meadows, near marshes, fields and backyards in the eastern U.S. and parts of Canada. Unlike some other insects, fireflies are no bother to us humans. They don't sting, bite, attack or carry disease. But what's really going on out there in the dark? What do all the blinking lights mean? And how do fireflies generate the light we see? There's so much more to learn and admire about fireflies than just a mini-Fourth of July light show. Read on--you'll be amazed! Firefly Morse Code: "I'm Your Love Bug!" Credit: J.E. Lloyd,Univ. of Florida Over 2,000 species of fireflies exist in the world and approximately 200 species in North America. Some species of firefly actually don't flash. But among flashing fireflies, each separate flashing species has its own unique flash pattern or signal. But just who's doing the flashing? Who's watching? What are they watching for? And what do the flashes mean? One purpose of the flashing is thought to be a signal system for attracting mates—like a Firefly Morse code for "Hey, baby! I'm the light of your life, check me out, let me be your Luvvv Bug!" Entomologist Susan Weller from the University of Minnesota tells us that male and female fireflies have different roles in this flash dance: "Males and females find each other by exchanging light flashes called bioluminesence, or by emitting chemicals called pheromones. In flashing species, males cruise and flash at or above the tree line at the edge of meadows. Females usually sit on bushes and other low plants, and wait for the right male before flashing a return signal." The firefly's light source is not located where you might think. In fact , the light source on these tiny lanterns is located on their behind or posterior—close to the tip of their abdomen. Poet Ogden Nash seemed to have noticed this when he wrote this limerick . The firefly's flame Is something for which science has no name. I can think of nothing eerier Than flying around with an unidentified glow on a person's posteerier. -Ogden Nash (Illustration: Arwin Provonsha, Purdue Department of Entomology) Studying Firefly Flash Patterns Click on image to see the firefly flash Credit: Dr. Patrick C. Hickey University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. What is it in a male firefly's flash that leads a female to respond to his flash pattern instead of that of another male? What tells a female that "he's the right male?" Firefly expert Marc Branham of New York's American Museum of Natural History studied this question by videotaping and analyzing fireflies' flash patterns. Learn more about his fascinating research on the linked page below. But before you go to that page, put yourself in the place of the female and the male firefly surrounded by all this flashing, and think about these questions:   If you were a FEMALE firefly, what type of a male flash pattern would be more attractive to you? Do you think there would be some strategy in a male's flash? What information might the flash rate tell you about the male? Think about what information you might want to know about the male. If you were a MALE firefly, what kind of night conditions would you want so that female fireflies would be sure to notice your flashes? What conditions, both natural and man-made, could enhance or impair a female's ability to see your signals? Take a closer look at Marc's research, and see if he has unlocked the code behind the fireflies' signals: Firefly Decoder Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? Fireflies seem to have such a peaceful way of communicating with each other. The male blinks his half of the code and the female answers with her half of the code, and hopefully they find each other and mate. But, sometimes things aren't what they seem. Flash patterns can also be used for another purpose—luring unsuspecting prey. In a process called "aggressive mimicry," some female species of firefly will actually imitate another species' flash pattern or code in order lure the male of that other species in for a meal—except HE'S the meal! Other than hunger, what reasons can you think of why a female firefly might prey on and eat a male firefly? Try This! Journaling Questions Fireflies are on the decline. The major causes are pesticide use and habitat loss from human actions like mowing of fields and destruction of marshes, wetlands, bogs and woods. You can do simple things to help attract fireflies to your yard and support the firefly population. Take a look and then write your plan in your journal. How to Have a "Glowing" Backyard Test your knowledge and try to answer these fun questions about fireflies: -What state in the U.S. has more firefly species than any other? -What city has a firefly festival every year, and has been designated the firefly capitol of the U.S.? -What continent has no fireflies at all? -Which U.S. STATE/city has named the firefly its state insect?   Copyright 2004 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form