The secret lives of fireflies are full of romance, beauty, tricksters, and _____1_____. Some of us grew up with fire flies around our homes, but others might not have experienced the wonder of glowing insects. Even for the most experienced firefly observer, the mating rituals, feeding habits, and internal biology of these Invertebrates are full of wonder.

Fireflies are in fact, not flies at all. They are a unique family of _____2_____ called the Lampyridae, which means light makers in Latin. They are over 2,000 known firefly species worldwide, and each one has unique behaviors, including flashing patterns and other _____3_____ quirks. They thrive around water, and prefer to grow in damp soils and dense vegetation. In modern times, they are most associated with rural areas away from urban development. However, they do just fine living in cities and towns where there is less pesticide use.

Young fireflies called larvae eat snails, worms, and slugs, which they inject with a _____4_____. Adults eat other fireflies, nectar, or pollen, although some don’t eat at all. They are part-time _____5_____.

But this is where the lives of fireflies, or lightning bugs, get really interesting. First, the mating rituals. Each species has complex mating rituals defined by illumination patterns (unique flashing), habitat needs, and practices of deceiving the males. It starts off innocently enough with beautiful, intricate flashing patterns and motions that signal from one firefly to another a willingness to meet up and mate. If a female is impressed, she may land on a leaf and breeding begins. However, female fireflies commonly _____6_____ once she is done using him for reproductive purposes. Cannibalism is quite common in the insect world, but one glowing insect eating another glowing insect in a dark moist forest sure is an interesting twist in the love story of these beetles.

The flashing patterns of fireflies are different from species to species. In a few special parts of the world, the local firefly species are famous for synchronization. Synchronizing fireflies flash all at the same time. Scientists are not sure how they are able to do this, but tourists come from all around to view this magical display of illuminated biology.

So what exactly causes them to glow? It’s all chemistry. Fireflies produce light in their _____7_____ by combining a chemical called luciferin, enzymes called luciferases, _____8_____ and ATP energy. Entomologists (bug scientists) think they control their flashing by regulating how much oxygen goes to their light-producing organs in the abdomen.

A great way to avoid being eaten is to make themselves _____9_____. Many fireflies protect themselves with molecules called lucibufagins. They produce this toxin by undergoing chemical reactions that simply require what they eat in their diet. Birds and other predators quickly learn to avoid fireflies because of the disgusting taste. In some species of fireflies, the female can’t produce this toxin. Instead, females will eat male fireflies to make themselves taste bad. 

If you’re fascinated by the biology and behavior of fireflies, there are a few easy steps you can take to help them survive and thrive near your home. Fireflies have been in decline, fewer are seen every year. It’s believed to be because of human encroachment on habitat and increased _____10_____ from development and traffic. For creatures that are active at night, man-made lights are actually a type of pollution. For fireflies, artificial lights at night ruin their ability to communicate, hide from predators and it can even be _____11_____. But you can help them make a comeback. Where safe, turn off the outdoor lights at night. Leave some leaf litter and decomposing logs or branches somewhere in the yard. Fireflies love _____12_____, so any kind of it in the landscape is attractive to them, even if it’s small. Lastly, reduce or eliminate the widespread application of _____13_____ in the yard.

Fireflies are amazing creatures. They have been struggling to thrive as human civilization and landscaping changes encroach their habitats, but with a few changes in the yard, you can help bring them back. These glowing little creatures are a beautiful sight on warm summer nights.