Fireflies

[flypie743]

Ever wondered why or how they light up? Well I found the answer on wikipedia...so here it is:

"Fireflies (family Lampyridae), also known as Lightning Bugs, are nocturnal, luminous beetles. They use special light-emitting organs to communicate, primarily as part of mating. The light-emitting chemical, luciferase, is of scientific interest, and genes for producing it have been spliced into bacteria."

Yea I was wondering that tonight when I was outside....

[Pooping_Panda]

i never really wondered that....but its a pretty interesting thing to know....thanks...i learned something this summer

[flypie743]

yea...I've kinda always wondered why but never really found out...I thought it was so they didnt bump into each other (kinda like lights on a tall building so a low flying airplane doesnt hit it).

[NaOTa4231]

you ever play lightning bug baseball?

[Pooping_Panda]

i have...its fun till you realize what your doing....

[LEGO]

When I am out for runs over 2 hours and it's getting dark out, I typically see them out in the fields that surround my house (rural Vermont). Sometimes I can see as many as a few hundred at once, it's quite a sight. Almost makes you forget it's 2004.

[evilbutterfly]

Fireflies =/= lightning bugs. Lightning bugs blink their lights, fly really slow, and are all over the place. Fireflies I've only seen once, and they go a lot faster and light up for longer, so they leave streaks in your vision. Just thought I'd say that...

[xObserveRx]

I have this forest behind my house, that becomes infested with fireflies. Some nights you go back there and its like the forest is radio active. It literally glows green, there's so many fireflies there. It's a breathtaking site, and a great spot to bring girls.....

[MiraiGurl]

I have this forest behind my house, that becomes infested with fireflies. Some nights you go back there and its like the forest is radio active. It literally glows green, there's so many fireflies there. It's a breathtaking site, and a great spot to bring girls.....

That sounds so cool! If you can, post a pic of it or something. Where I live, there aren't many fireflies cuz it's so built up. *sigh* I wish the stupid city would leave some trees.

[Lupin_the_3rd]

I've heard (but haven't tried) that if you squish them in your hands and rub the chemicals on you it will glow...

Someone try it so I don't have to squish bug guts onto myself to no avail.

[x_chaser_x]

Thanks sounds so cool! If you can, post a pic of it or something. Where I live, there aren't many fireflies cuz it's so built up. *sigh* I wish the stupid city would leave some trees.

Yea, i second that. And they say you don't learn something new everyday...anyone wanna airmail me a firefly in a jar?