Fireflies - Sept. 28, 2007

I am no entomologist and certainly no expert on the migration patters of fireflies. Over the years, however, I have learned that weather does play a role in the breeding of animals and insects. When we have mild winters it produces a higher flea and tick population the following spring. Hunters know that additional rainfall produces the necessary vegetation for an abundance of wildlife. So our mild spring and summer may have produced more fireflies this year. Growing up, we always called them lightening bugs. There were many warm summer evenings when my brother and sisters and I would spend time collecting them in our mom’s canning jars. If you are looking for a way to get your children or grand children outside away from the computer or television, the capturing lightening bugs might be your solution. After your question, I did a little research on these luminescence creatures. The light, it turns out, is a way for the males and females to meet. Females will be on the ground while the male fireflies fly in the air and show off by flashing their signals on and off in certain patterns to attract the ladies. When she identifies an appropriate suitor, she flashes her special “hey big boy, come see me” signal and the males fly down to meet. I read on a firefly web site that there are more than 200 species of fireflies. Researchers are using the chemicals that make their little bottoms light up, to study the effects on diseases, like cancer and even muscular dystrophy. Your question brought back a lot of good old memories. I guess we are never too old to be attracted to the amazing fireflies. One evening I need to gather up my brother and sisters and see if mom has anymore of those old Kerr canning jars. If you have a weather question, send it to: askdan@kjrh.com