Firefly insect: what does it eat, where does it live and why does it glow? Living glow of fireflies! Causes of the glow of fireflies

Who observed on serene summer evenings at the first appearance of twilight an amazing and unusual glow in the grass? Everything around takes on a fabulous image. Some unusually mysterious radiation comes from these luminous points.

Constantly haunted by a premonition of something fabulously good. What is this miracle of nature? This is something other than fireflies, about which many children's cartoons and fairy tales were filmed.

Everyone knows about this amazing insect from early childhood. firefly in the garden intrigues and fascinates, attracts and attracts with its unusual abilities.

To the question why do fireflies flicker there is still no clear answer. Most often, researchers tend to one version. Allegedly, such a fabulous and unusual light is emitted by a female firefly insect, which thus tries to attract the attention of the opposite sex.

Such a connection of love between the sexes of fireflies and their mysterious glow were noticed in ancient times, which is why ancestors have long associated their special glow and the holiday of Ivan Kupala.

But indeed it is in the first days of July that this is observed most often. In the past, fireflies were called Ivanovy worms. They belong to the order of lampiridae beetles. Not everywhere you can see such beauty.

But those people who have seen it at least once in their lives say with delight that this is an unforgettable and impressive sight. Photo of fireflies not so chic conveys all their charm, but you can also look at it for a long time with bated breath. It is not only beautiful, but also romantic, impressive, bewitching, alluring.

Features and habitat

Today, there are about 2,000 species of fireflies in nature. Their nondescript appearance in the daytime is in no way associated with the beauty that radiates from fireflies at night.

Each such cell has its own substance, which is a fuel called luciferin. This whole complex system of a firefly works with the help of the breath of an insect. When he inhales, air moves through the trachea to the luminous organ.

There, luciferin is oxidized, which releases energy and gives light. Insect phytocides are arranged so thoughtfully and subtly that they do not even consume energy. Although they should not worry about this, because this system works with an enviable laboriousness and impact.

The CAC of these insects is equal to 98%. This means that only 2% can be spent in vain. For comparison, the technical inventions of people have FCC from 60 to 90%.

Darkness conquerors. This is not their latest and most important achievement. They easily know how to manage their "flashlights". Only some of them are not given the ability to regulate the supply of light.

All the rest are able to change the degree of glow, then kindling, then extinguishing their "bulbs". This is not just a glare game for insects. With the help of such actions, they distinguish their own from others. The fireflies living in Malaysia are especially perfect in this regard.

Their ignition and dulling of the glow occurs synchronously. In the jungle at night, such synchronicity is misleading. It looks like someone hung a festive garland.

It should be noted that such an amazing ability to shine at night is not inherent in all fireflies. Among them there are those who prefer to lead a daily lifestyle. They do not glow at all, or their faint glow is seen in dense forest jungles and caves.

A wide distribution of fireflies is observed in the northern hemisphere of the planet. The territory of North America and Eurasia is their favorite habitat. They are comfortable in deciduous forests, meadows and swamps.

Character and lifestyle

This is not quite a collective insect, yet it most often gathers in mass aggregations. In the daytime, their passive sitting on the grass is observed. The arrival of dusk inspires fireflies to move and fly.

They fly smoothly, measuredly and quickly at the same time. Firefly larvae cannot be called sedentary. They prefer to lead a wandering lifestyle. They are comfortable not only on land, but also in water.

Fireflies love warmth. In winter, insects hide under the bark of a tree. And with the advent of spring and after good nutrition, they pupate. It is interesting that some females, in addition to all the above advantages, also have cunning.

They know what kind of light a particular species can shine. They also start to glow. Naturally, the male of that species notices the familiar glow and approaches to mate.

But the male stranger who noticed the trick is not given the opportunity to hide. The female devours it, while receiving a sufficient amount of useful substances for her life and for the development of larvae. Until now, fireflies have not been fully studied. There are still many scientific discoveries ahead in this regard.

Food

These insects can be safely attributed to predators. fireflies feed variety of animal food. They love ants, spiders, the larvae of their fellows, and rotten plants.

Not all fireflies are predators. Among them there are also species that prefer pollen and plant nectar. Species of fireflies in the imago phase, for example, do not eat anything at all, they do not have a mouth at all. Those fireflies that fraudulently lure representatives of other species to themselves and immediately eat them have chosen the most difficult way to obtain food.

Reproduction and lifespan

flickering fireflies This is one of their main achievements. They not only lure potential food in this way, but also attract the opposite sex. Most of all, this is observed at the beginning of the summer period. Fireflies ignite their sparks of love and search for their partner among the vast array of insects.

Mating does not take long. After him, the female has the task of laying eggs in the ground. After some time, larvae emerge from the eggs. They are more like worms and are very voracious. The ability to glow is literally inherent in the larvae of all species. And all of them are essentially predators.

During its maturation, the larva prefers to hide among stones, in the soil and between the bark. The development of the larvae takes a lot of time. One needs to overwinter, while other species are in the larval stage for several years.

Then the larva transforms into a pupa, which after 1-2.5 weeks becomes a real firefly. firefly in the forest does not live long. The average life expectancy of these is about 90 - 120 days.

A firefly is an insect that belongs to the Coleoptera (or beetles) order, polyphagous suborder, family fireflies (lampyridae) (lat. Lampyridae).

Fireflies get their name from the fact that their eggs, larvae and adults are able to glow. The oldest written reference to fireflies is in a Japanese poetry collection from the late 8th century.

Firefly - description and photo. What does a firefly look like?

Fireflies are small insects ranging in size from 4 mm to 3 cm. Most of them have a flattened elongated body covered with hairs and a structure characteristic of all beetles, in which:

• 4 wings, the upper two of which turned into elytra, with punctures and sometimes traces of ribs;

• movable head, decorated with large compound eyes, completely or partially covered by the pronotum;

• filiform, comb-shaped or serrated antennae, consisting of 11 segments;

• gnawing type mouth apparatus (more often it is observed in larvae and females; in adult males it is reduced).

Males of many species, similar to ordinary beetles, are very different from females, which are more reminiscent of larvae or small worms with legs. Such representatives have a dark brown body on 3 pairs of short limbs, simple large eyes and no wings or elytra at all. As a result, they cannot fly. Their antennae are small, consisting of three segments, and the indistinguishable head is hidden behind the neck shield. The less developed the female, the more she glows.

Fireflies are not brightly colored: representatives of brown are more common, but their covers can also contain black and brown tones. These insects have relatively soft and flexible, moderately sclerotized body integuments. Unlike other beetles, the elytra of fireflies are very light, so insects were previously classified as soft beetles (lat. Cantharidae), but then they were separated into a separate family.

Why do fireflies glow?

Most representatives of the firefly family are known for their ability to emit a phosphorescent glow, which is especially noticeable in the dark. In some species, only males can glow, in others only females, in others, both (for example, Italian fireflies). Males emit bright light in flight. Females are inactive and usually glow brightly on the soil surface. There are also fireflies that do not have this ability at all, while in many species the light comes even from the larvae and eggs.

By the way, few land animals generally have the phenomenon of bioluminescence (chemical glow). Fungal mosquito larvae, springtails (springtails), fire flies, jumping spiders and representatives of beetles, such as fire-bearing click beetles (pyrophorus) from the West Indies, are known to be capable of this. But if we count the marine inhabitants, then there are at least 800 species of luminous animals on Earth.

The organs that allow fireflies to emit rays are photogenic cells (lanterns), abundantly entwined with nerves and tracheae (air tubes). Outwardly, lanterns look like yellowish spots on the underside of the abdomen, covered with a transparent film (cuticle). They can be located on the last segments of the abdomen or evenly distributed over the body of the insect. Beneath these cells lie others filled with uric acid crystals and capable of reflecting light. Together, these cells work only if there is a nerve impulse from the insect's brain. Oxygen enters the photogenic cell through the trachea and, with the help of the luciferase enzyme, which accelerates the reaction, oxidizes the compound of luciferin (light-emitting biological pigment) and ATP (adenosine triphosphoric acid). Thanks to this, the firefly glows, emitting light of blue, yellow, red or green.

Males and females of the same species most often emit rays of a similar color, but there are exceptions. The color of the glow depends on the temperature and acidity (pH) of the environment, as well as on the structure of the luciferase.

Beetles themselves regulate the glow, they can strengthen or weaken it, make it intermittent or continuous. Each species has its own unique system of phosphorus radiation. Depending on the purpose, the glow of fireflies can be pulsating, flashing, stable, fading, bright or dim. The female of each species reacts only to the signals of the male with a certain frequency and intensity of light, that is, his regime. With a special rhythm of light emission, beetles not only attract partners, but also scare away predators and guard the borders of their territories. Distinguish:

• search and calling signals in males;
• signals of consent, refusal and post-copulatory signals in females;
• signals of aggression, protest and even light mimicry.

Interestingly, fireflies spend about 98% of their energy emitting light, while an ordinary electric light bulb (incandescent lamp) converts only 4% of energy into light, the rest of the energy is dissipated as heat.

Fireflies that are diurnal often do not need the ability to emit light, because they do not have it. But those diurnal representatives who live in caves or in the dark corners of the forest also turn on their "flashlights". The eggs of all types of fireflies also emit light at first, but it soon fades. During the day, the light of a firefly can be seen if you cover the insect with two palms or move it to a dark place.

By the way, fireflies also give signals using the direction of flight. For example, representatives of one species fly in a straight line, representatives of another species fly in a broken line.

Types of light signals fireflies

V. F. Bak divided all light signals of fireflies into 4 types:

• continuous glow

This is how adult beetles belonging to the genus Phengodes glow, and the eggs of all fireflies, without exception. Neither external temperature nor lighting affect the brightness of the rays of this uncontrolled type of glow.

• intermittent glow

Depending on environmental factors and the internal state of the insect, it can be weak or strong light. It may fade away for a while. This is how most larvae shine.

• Ripple

This type of luminescence, in which periods of radiation and absence of light are repeated at certain intervals, is characteristic of the tropical genera Luciola and Pteroptix.

• Flashes

There is no time dependence between the intervals of flashes and their absence in this type of glow. This type of signal is typical for most fireflies, especially in temperate latitudes. In a given climate, the ability of insects to emit light is highly dependent on environmental factors.

HA. Lloyd also identified a fifth type of glow:

• flicker

This type of light signal is a series of short flashes (frequency from 5 to 30 Hz) that appear immediately after each other. It is found in all subfamilies, and its presence does not depend on the place and habitat.

Firefly communication systems

There are 2 types of communication systems in lampyrids.

1. In the first system, an individual of one sex (more often a female) emits specific calling signals and attracts a representative of the opposite sex, for whom the presence of its own light organs is not mandatory. This type of communication is typical for fireflies of the genera Phengodes, Lampyris, Arachnocampa, Diplocadon, Dioptoma (Cantheroidae).
2. In the system of the second type, individuals of the same sex (more often flying males) emit calling signals, to which non-flying females give sex- and species-specific responses. This way of communication is characteristic of many species from the subfamilies Lampyrinae (genus Photinus) and Photurinae living in North and South America.

This division is not absolute, since there are species with an intermediate type of communication and with a more perfect dialogue system of luminescence (in European species Luciola italica and Luciola mingrelica).

Synchronized flashing of fireflies

In the tropics, many species of bugs from the Lampyridae family seem to shine together. They simultaneously light their "lanterns" and extinguish them at the same time. Scientists called this phenomenon the synchronous flashing of fireflies. The process of synchronous flashing of fireflies is not yet fully understood, and there are several versions of how insects manage to shine at the same time. According to one of them, there is a leader within a group of beetles of the same species, and he serves as the conductor of this “choir”. And since all representatives know the frequency (break time and glow time), they manage to do it very amicably. Synchronously flashing, mainly male lampiridae. Moreover, all researchers are inclined to the version that the synchronization of firefly signals is associated with the sexual behavior of insects. By increasing the density of the population, they have an increased opportunity to find a partner for mating. Scientists also noticed that the synchronicity of the light of insects can be broken if you hang a lamp next to them. But with the termination of its work, the process is restored.

The first mention of this phenomenon dates back to 1680 - this is a description that E. Kaempfer made after traveling to Bangkok. Subsequently, many claims were made about the observation of this phenomenon in Texas (USA), Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and the highlands of New Guinea. Especially many of these species of fireflies live in Malaysia: locals call this phenomenon “kelip-kelip” there. In the United States, in Elcomont National Park (Great Smoky Mountains), visitors watch the synchronous glow of representatives of the species Photinus carolinus.

Where do fireflies live?

Fireflies are fairly common, heat-loving insects that live in all parts of the world:

• in North and South America;
• in Africa;
• in Australia and New Zealand;
• in Europe (including the UK);
• in Asia (Malaysia, China, India, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines).

Most fireflies are found in the Northern Hemisphere. Many of them live in warm countries, that is, in the tropical and subtropical regions of our planet. Some varieties are found in temperate latitudes. 20 species of fireflies live in Russia, which can be found throughout the territory, except for the north: in the Far East, in the European part and in Siberia. They can be found in deciduous forests, in swamps, near rivers and lakes, in glades.

Fireflies do not like to live in groups, they are loners, but they often form temporary clusters. Most fireflies are nocturnal animals, but there are some that are active during daylight hours. During the day, insects rest on the grass, hiding under bark, stones or in silt, and at night, those that are able to fly do it smoothly and quickly. In cold weather, they can often be seen on the surface of the earth.

What do fireflies eat?

Both larvae and adults are more likely to be predators, although there are fireflies that feed on nectar and pollen from flowers, as well as rotting plants. Carnivorous bugs prey on other insects, scoop caterpillars, molluscs, centipedes, earthworms, and even their fellows. Some females living in the tropics (for example, from the genus Photuris), after mating, imitate the rhythm of the glow of males of another species in order to eat them and obtain nutrients for the development of their offspring.

Adult females feed more often than males. Many males do not eat at all and die after a few matings, although there is other evidence that all adults eat food.

The firefly larva has a retractable brush on the last segment of the abdomen. She is needed in order to clean off the mucus remaining on her small head after eating and slugs. All firefly larvae are active predators. Basically, they eat mollusks and often settle in their hard shells.

firefly breeding

Like all beetles, fireflies develop with complete metamorphosis. The life cycle of these insects consists of 4 stages:

1. Egg (3-4 weeks),
2. Larva, or nymph (from 3 months to 1.5 years),
3. Pupa (1-2 weeks),
4. Imago, or adult (3-4 months).

Females and males mate on the ground or on low plants for 1-3 hours, after which the female lays up to 100 eggs in soil depressions, in debris, on the underside of leaves or in moss. The eggs of common fireflies look like mother-of-pearl-yellow pebbles washed with water. Their shells are thin, and the “head” side of the eggs contains the embryo, which is visible through a transparent film.

After 3-4 weeks, the eggs hatch into terrestrial or aquatic larvae, which are voracious predators. The body of the larvae is dark, slightly flattened, with long running legs. In aquatic species, lateral abdominal gills are developed. The small, elongated or square head of nymphs with three-segmented antennae is strongly retracted into the prothorax. On the sides of the head is located on 1 light eye. The heavily sclerotized mandibles (mandibles) of the larvae are sickle-shaped, inside of which there is a sucking canal. Unlike adult insects, nymphs do not have an upper lip.

The larvae settle on the surface of the soil - under stones, in the forest litter, in shells of mollusks. Nymphs of some species of fireflies pupate in the same autumn, but mostly they survive the winter and turn into pupae only in spring.

The larvae pupate in the soil or hang themselves on the bark of a tree, as they do. After 1-2 weeks, beetles crawl out of the pupae.

The general life cycle of fireflies lasts 1-2 years.

Types of fireflies, photos and names.

In total, entomologists count about 2,000 species of fireflies. Let's talk about the most famous of them.

• common firefly ( he is large firefly) (lat. Lampyris noctiluca) has the popular names Ivanov worm or Ivanovo worm. The appearance of the insect was associated with the holiday of Ivan Kupala, because it is with the advent of summer that the mating season begins for fireflies. Hence the popular nickname appeared, which was given to the female, very similar to a worm.

The large firefly is a beetle with the characteristic appearance of fireflies. The size of males reaches 11-15 mm, females - 11-18 mm. The insect has a flat, villous body and all other signs of the family and order. The male and female of this species are very different from each other. The female is similar to a larva and leads a sedentary ground lifestyle. Both sexes have the ability to bioluminescence. But in the female, this is much more pronounced; at dusk, she emits a rather bright glow. The male flies well, but glows very weakly, almost imperceptibly for observers. Obviously, it is the female who gives the signal to the partner.

• - a common inhabitant of the rice fields of Japan. Lives only in wet silt or directly in water. Hunts at night for mollusks, including intermediate hosts of fluke worms. When hunting, it shines very brightly, emitting blue light.

• lives in North America. Males from the genus Photinus glow only on takeoff and fly in a zigzag path, while females use mimic illumination to eat males of other species. From representatives of this genus, American scientists isolate the enzyme luciferase in order to use it in biological practice. The common eastern firefly is the most common in North America.

This is a nocturnal beetle with a dark brown body 11-14 mm long. Due to the bright light, it is clearly visible on the soil surface. The females of this species are similar to worms. Fire photinus larvae live from 1 to 2 years and hide in damp places - next to streams, under bark and on the ground. They spend the winter buried in the ground.

Both adult insects and their larvae are predators, eating worms and snails.

• lives only in Canada and the USA. An adult beetle reaches a size of 2 cm. It has a flat black body, red eyes and yellow underwings. Photogenic cells are located on the last segments of its abdomen.

The larva of this insect was nicknamed the "glowing worm" for its ability to bioluminescence. Worm-like females of this species also have the ability to light mimicry, they mimic the signals of the firefly species Photinus in order to grab and eat their males.

• Cyphonocerus ruficollis- the most primitive and little-studied type of fireflies. It lives in North America and Eurasia. In Russia, the insect is found in Primorye, where females and males actively glow in August. The beetle is included in the Red Book of Russia.

• Red firefly (pyrocelium firefly) (lat. Pyrocaelia rufa)- a rare and little-studied species that lives in the Far East of Russia. Its length can reach 15 mm. It is called the red firefly because its shield and rounded pronotum have an orange tint. The elytra of the beetle are dark brown, the antennae are saw-shaped and small.

The larval stage of this insect lasts 2 years. You can find the larva in the grass, under stones or in the forest floor. Adult males fly and glow.

• - a small black beetle with an orange head and saw-toothed antennae. Females of this species fly and glow, while males lose their ability to emit light after turning into an adult insect.

Fir firefly beetles live in the forests of North America.

• - inhabitant of the center of Europe. The pronotum of the male beetle has distinct transparent spots, and the rest of its body is colored light brown. The body length of the insect varies from 10 to 15 mm.

Males shine especially brightly in flight. The females are worm-like and also capable of emitting bright light. The organs of light production are located in Central European worms not only at the end of the abdomen, but also in the second segment of the chest. The larvae of this species can also glow. They have a black hairy body with yellow-pink dots on the sides.

Fireflies can appear and disappear in a certain area.

Their habitat is prairie, steppe and pampas.

Various varieties of fireflies are found in North and South America, Europe (Great Britain), Russia, Asia (China, Malaysia and India), New Zealand, Australia.

Fireflies prey on small snails and slugs and should be looked for in places like this prey. It is easier to observe insects from May to July, when they are. Fireflies are visible in the evening, for about two hours after dark. Fireflies are much less common in forests than in open grassy areas or near hedgerows. However, insects are not found near land fertilized for agriculture.

Firefly colony in Malaysia

A large colony of fireflies lives near Kampung Kuatan, a small settlement near Kuala Selangor in Malaysia, on the coast of the Malacca Strait. These fireflies belong to the Lampyridae family. The insect colony aroused the interest of entomologists back in the 70s of the 20th century.

The natural park, now open to the general public at this location, is a combination of tropical and swamp forests. Fireflies live only in the mangrove forests of this 296-hectare reserve. During the day, they go into the grasses growing next to the mangrove trees. As night falls, they move to the mangroves along the banks of the river. On trees, they feed on the juice of their leaves. Females and males of the insect glow in the dark with a greenish flickering light, attracting each other to mate.

Each tree can host a separate subspecies of fireflies, and this is noticeable by their flicker, which differs from the glow of fireflies of another subspecies in the frequency of flicker.

Since 2000, the number of fireflies in the reserve has decreased significantly. Local residents believe that the reason for this is the construction of a dam in the upper reaches of the river.

UK Fireflies

Fireflies of the Lampyris noctiluca family are found in the British Isles. Although members of this family are thought to prefer limestone soils, they have been observed in various parts of the UK.

Fireflies are found in gardens, on hedges, on railway embankments. Most often they can be found on abandoned railways. Insects are also observed on sheer cliffs, in wooded areas, on heaths, in dells of Scotland and Wales.

Fireflies are also found on the island of Jersey, which is under the protection of the United Kingdom.

In general, fireflies are much more common in the southern part of the British Isles.

Fireflies - a luminous miracle of nature

Flying, flickering firefly lights are a real mystical attraction in the summer. But how much do we know about what fireflies are. Here are some facts about them.

1. What are firefly beetles
Fireflies are nocturnal insects - they are active at night. They are members of the Lampyridae family of winged beetles (which means "shine" in Greek). The name "firefly" is a little misleading because of the over 2,000 species of fireflies, only a few of these species have the ability to light up.

2. There are other types of glowing species besides fireflies.
Fireflies are probably one of the more popular species because of their ability to glow. Most bioluminescent creatures live in the ocean - humans have little contact with them. Their light is created by a chemical reaction that combines oxygen with calcium, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and luciferin via the enzyme luciferase. Fireflies use their bioluminescence, presumably to scare away predators.

3. Not all fireflies have "fire"
Fireflies, most of their species, simply do not burn. Non-bioluminescent fireflies, which do not produce light, are generally not nocturnal bugs—they are most active during the day.

4. Scientists discovered luciferases thanks to fireflies
The only way to get the chemical luciferase is to extract it from a firefly. Eventually, scientists figured out how to make synthetic luciferases. But some people still collect the enzyme from flying lanterns. Luciferase is used in scientific research for food safety testing and some forensic procedures.

5. Fireflies are energy efficient
Firefly lights are the most efficient sources of energy in the world. One hundred percent of the energy they create is radiated through light. By comparison, an incandescent lamp emits only 10 percent of its energy as light, while fluorescent lamps emit 90 percent of their energy as light.

6. Their light show is mating.
Most flying male fireflies are looking for a mate. Each species has a specific pattern of light that they use to communicate with each other. After the female sees the male and responds to his love, she reacts to him with the same light pattern. Usually females sit on plants, waiting for the male.

7. Some species have the ability to synchronize their blinking.
Scientists aren't sure why fireflies do this, but some theories suggest that fireflies do it to make themselves more visible. If a group of fireflies blink in a single pattern, then most likely they are doing this to attract the attention of females. The only firefly species in America that blinks in sync is Photin carolinus. They live in the US Great Smoky National Park, where the park service organizes evening light show hours for visitors.

8. Not all fireflies shine the same.
Each species has its own specific color of light. Some produce a blue or green glow, while others glow orange or yellow.

9. They taste disgusting
Unlike cicadas, fireflies cannot be cooked in grilled beetles. If you try to eat a firefly, it will taste bitter. The bugs can even be toxic. When fireflies are attacked, they shed drops of blood. The blood contains chemicals that create a bitter taste and poison. Most animals know this and avoid chewing fireflies.

10. Fireflies sometimes practice cannibalism
When fireflies are still in their larval stage, they are ready to feast on snails. Usually, when they mature, they become vegetarians - moving away from meat. Scientists believe that adult fireflies live off nectar and pollen, or don't eat at all. But others, fireflies like Photuris, may enjoy eating their own species. Photuris females often eat males of other genera. They attract unsuspecting beetles by mimicking their light pattern.

11. Their numbers are dwindling.
There are several reasons why the firefly population is declining, including climate change and habitat destruction. When a firefly's habitat is disturbed due to road construction or other construction, they do not migrate to a new location, but simply disappear.

12. Enjoy the firefly light show while you can
Researchers know little about fireflies and don't give a definitive answer as to why they are disappearing. Enjoy the light show while this insect still exists in nature. Perhaps the generations of people who will come after us will not be given such an opportunity to see these beetles with their amazing mystical glow.

The firefly insect is a large family of beetles with an amazing ability to emit light.

Despite the fact that insect fireflies do not bring practically any benefit to humans, the attitude towards these unusual insects has always been positive.

Watching the simultaneous flickering of many lights in the night forest, you can be transported for a while into the fairy tale of fireflies.

Habitat

The firefly beetle lives in North America, Europe and Asia. It can be found in tropical and deciduous forests, meadows, glades and swamps.

Appearance

Outwardly, the firefly insect looks very modest, even nondescript. The body is elongated and narrow, the head is very small, the antennae are short. The size of the insect firefly is small - on average from 1 to 2 centimeters. The body color is brown, dark gray or black.

In many species of beetles, differences between male and female are pronounced. Male firefly insects resemble cockroaches in appearance, can fly, but do not glow.

The female looks very similar to a larva or a worm, she does not have wings, so she leads a sedentary lifestyle. But the female knows how to glow, which attracts representatives of the opposite sex.

Why does it glow

The luminous swell organ of the insect firefly is located in the back of the abdomen. It is an accumulation of light cells - photocytes, through which multiple tracheae and nerves pass.

Each such cell contains the substance luciferin. During breathing, oxygen enters the luminous organ through the trachea, under the influence of which luciferin is oxidized, releasing energy in the form of light.

Due to the fact that nerve endings pass through the light cells, the firefly insect can independently regulate the intensity and mode of the glow. It can be a continuous glow, blinking, pulsing or flashes. Thus, bugs glowing in the dark resemble a New Year's garland.

Lifestyle

Fireflies are not collective insects, however, they often form large clusters. During the day, fireflies insects rest, sitting on the ground or on plant stalks, and at night they begin an active life.

Different types of fireflies differ in the nature of their diet. Harmless herbivorous insect fireflies feed on pollen and nectar.

Predatory individuals attack spiders, centipedes and snails. There are even species that at the adult stage do not feed at all, moreover, they do not have a mouth..

Lifespan

The female beetle lays its eggs on a bed of leaves. After some time, black-and-yellow larvae emerge from the eggs. They have an excellent appetite, in addition, the firefly insect glows when disturbed.

Beetle larvae overwinter in the bark of trees. In the spring they emerge from the shelter, feed intensively, then pupate. After 2 - 3 weeks, adult fireflies emerge from the cocoon.

• The brightest firefly beetle lives in the American tropics.
• In length, it reaches 4 - 5 centimeters, and not only the abdomen, but also the chest glows in it.
• In terms of the brightness of the emitted light, this bug is 150 times superior to its European relative, the common firefly.
• Fireflies were used by the inhabitants of tropical villages as lamps. They were placed in small cages and with the help of such primitive lanterns they illuminated their dwellings.

• Every year at the beginning of summer, the Firefly Festival is held in Japan. With the onset of dusk, spectators gather in the garden near the temple and watch the fabulously beautiful flight of many luminous bugs.
• The most common species in Europe is the common firefly, which is popularly called the Ivan worm. It received such a name because of the belief that the firefly insect begins to glow on the night of Ivan Kupala.