Fireflies are soft bodied beetles which sizes range from 5 to 25 millimetres in length. On the underside of the abdomen it have special light organs that glows in luminous flashes. The flattened, dark brown or black body is often marked with yellow or orange. Most of the fireflies feed on pollen and nector but for adult fireflies they do not eat.

What bring the sexes together? The female fireflies will produce a short rhythmic flashes that attracts the males fireflies. The females will sit on the ground in the high grass to flash to certain males only. Some have hypothesized that there is a correllation between the male's flash patterns and the female's criteria in selecting the best mate.

However, others feel that the flashing is not to attract the opposites but as a mechanism of warning to advise predators of the fireflies bitter taste. Unfortunately, some frogs like to eat them. Otherwise, they live about 2 months.

How is the firefly light produced? They are produced under a nervous control that impliments a series of internal chemical reactions of which the end resultis cold light .

Fireflies do not bite, do not have pincers, do not carry disease and in fact are quite harmless.

Flashes of Brilliance

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