Submitted by Fred on

Fire Flies/Lightning Bugs

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Lifestyle

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!

Comments

Submitted by Liz_Saldana on Thu, 07/26/2018 - 22:07

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Liz Saldana

We were at the home of our cousins in New Jersey on July 4th, when fire flies came out in their backyard. I got so excited, Jerry said I looked like a little kid. :)
Fred Klein

That’s it, it brings out our inner little kid!

Submitted by MarilynGenoa on Thu, 07/26/2018 - 22:37

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Marilyn Genoa

Lovely
Dana Charlton

How interesting that you write about fireflies today, Fred, because I saw one last night! It seems to me that as a child I saw many more of them during the summer and maybe that's why I thought of this one like the first robin of Spring.

Submitted by Judy_Mauer on Thu, 07/26/2018 - 23:04

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Judy Mauer

I too LOVE to see fireflies - sadly I haven't seen even one this summer. I spend my weekends at the beach - so none there. :(

Submitted by Judy_Mauer on Thu, 07/26/2018 - 23:05

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Judy Mauer

one more thing - we used to collect them in a jar and pretend they were a lamp :)

Submitted by SoniaSaleh on Thu, 07/26/2018 - 23:28

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Sonia Saleh

They are a joy to watch. Just thinking of them brought me a big smile, thanks Fred.
Victoria Drogin

Beautiful reminder of chasing them as kids after dinner. They weren’t hard to catch. And we always had to release them at the end of the night so they wouldn’t die in our “lamp” jars.

Submitted by NeilHollander on Fri, 07/27/2018 - 05:21

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Neil Hollander

Running home from Joanne's house on Barberry Lane in the dark . I wish . Smelling the honeysuckle along the way . Dreaming of days future past . Was there still time to ride my bike to Carvel on Glen Cove Road ? Only a little over a mile . I could get there and back before the Yankees bottom of the seventh inning . Mick would have his last at bat . I could smell the bubble gum on my Topps baseball cards . Beads of sweat on my brow . The embers of the barbecue glowing red . Lightning from the west with the distant roll of thunder . The quintessential summer night as fireflies blinked their morse code . Bob Sheppard's on the PA . Freedom .

Hollander Sends

Submitted by Fred on Fri, 07/27/2018 - 05:27

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Fred Klein

Mel Allen in the air...
ODEY RAVIV

Tough to follow up on Neil but how great is it when a lightning bug ends up in the house and
flickers as the Game is on. Should you catch it and bring it outside or enjoy the light show
inside for a while?
Neil Hollander

Better to release it and enjoy the show outside where it is free ?

Submitted by NeilHollander on Fri, 07/27/2018 - 13:28

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Neil Hollander

Ballantine Ale and the Panama hat

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