Where Have All the Fireflies Gone?
By Christopher Widuch
“F
irefly” It’s a funny word, really, in no way truly
descriptive of the insect who holds its name.
A firefly is not technically a fly and is never on
fire. Also known as lightening bugs, they are
actually beetles. Scientifically speaking, they show themselves
through bioluminescent flashes, not fire. Of course, a precise
description of a species doesn’t always translate into an
easy label. “Bioluminescent beetle” isn’t nearly as catchy
as “firefly”.
Here in South Carolina, these little floating lanterns light
up the night sky from late April to October, depending on
weather. The firefly doesn’t have long to explore the world.
Fully developed fireflies live only about two to eight weeks.
During their short adult life, they are mostly consumed
with finding a mate. The males flash bright while flying in
the dark, waiting and hoping for a female firefly to show her
interest. The female, not a capable flier due to her smaller
wings, awaits her prince from the sideline, resting on a
suitable perch and deciding which admirer she will invite
for company. A few days after mating, the female will lay her
fertilized eggs under mulch or leaf debris where the soil is
most likely to stay moist. Three to four weeks later the eggs
hatch as glowworms, unable to fly all the while giving off a
continual glow. They will remain earth bound, nestled in the
warm wet soil until the following spring. They then undergo
a remarkable metamorphosis, much like a caterpillar
becomes a butterfly. They construct a mud chamber in
the soil and, through a process called histolysis, transform
themselves into the adorable flying bioluminescent beetles
we all love.
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Photo by Kevin Adams