One of the best things about Summer is seeing the Lightning Bugs/Fire Flies dancing around in the air at dusk.  It is one of Nature’s greatest light shows.

Apparently these marvels are winged beetles which use bioluminescence (when oxygen combines with calcium adenosine triphosphate and the chemical luciferin in the presence of luciferase a bioluminescent enzyme, light is produced) during twilight to attract mates or prey.

Their fancy name is Lampyridae and maybe that’s because when we used to collect them in a jar they functioned as a lamp.

It’s amazing when I look out in the backyard on a warm night and see them.  The sparkling sight evokes memories from long ago when I was a boy.

No matter the fancy scientific explanation, nothing beats Nature’s simple pleasures!