The Firefly

Afirefly is the little flickering light that we see flying at night. Although called ‘fireflies’, they are a type of beetle which belongs to the scientific classification of Lampyridae. You can find fireflies mostly during the summer or dry seasons. There are over 2,000 species of fireflies across the world but not all of them can emit light.

The fireflies, which can glow or flash light, do so mostly to attract a partner and at other times to deceive a prey. Different species of fireflies have their own unique flashing method with different frequencies.

A grown firefly has two antennae, six legs, one pair of wing covers and two pairs of wings underneath. Below the wings, a firefly has the abdomen which glows at the end. This glowing part is called a photic organ which consists of light emitting cells. According to scientists, the light is emitted from these cells as a result of a reaction between a chemical called luciferin with oxygen. Scientists also say fireflies are the species with most-efficient lights as 100 per cent of the energy in their cells transform into light.

Firefly eggs hatch in two or three weeks from which larvae emerge. Larvae also glow in the dark and can live up to one to two years. This phase is the longest of their life cycle so the larvae can hibernate. A larva transforms into a pupa and then to an adult firefly which only lives for three or four weeks. Larvae feed on snails and little insects but the firefly feeds on flower nectar.