![]() ![]() No matter what you call them, these insects are a fascinating addition to the summer landscape. And a great many people - about 40 percent of Americans - use the two terms interchangeably. Here in Illinois and elsewhere in the Midwest, lightning bug is the most common term, but firefly is used most often in the western United States, Mental Floss reports. While these insects can be found all over the United States - and the world - what you call them may have to do with where you live. Each species of lightning bug has its own unique flashing pattern, and emitting their light sequence helps them find insects of the same species to mate with. All that glowing helps them find a mate, according to the Smithsonian. Lightning bugs' bioluminescence - that is, their ability to light up - serves an important purpose. Another contributing factor is that the chemical produced by the bugs that lets them light up is used in forensic tests, food safety testing and other scientific research, and while synthetic versions of the chemical are available, some companies still harvest the insects to collect the chemical. Why and to what extent lightning bug populations are declining isn't entirely understood, but light pollution is thought to play a role, as is habitat loss, Smithsonian Magazine reports. Today, though, their population appears to be declining, putting that rite at risk for future generations. These bugs are a summertime rite of passage for kids, who have been chasing and catching the insects for generations. to 1 p.m.A familiar flash of light in your backyard on a summer evening can mean only one thing: lightning bug season. Volunteers from MG groups around the state work the phones answering questions-running the gamut from vegetable gardens to lawns and trees.Ĭall 1-877-ALA-GROW (252-4769) to reach the Master Gardener Helpline Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. The Alabama Master Gardeners program is used to expand the outreach mission of Extension. The Helpline averages about 20,000 calls annually. Armed with research and Alabama Cooperative Extension System information, these volunteers also contact specialists to find the answers you need. The toll-free helpline, in existence since 2006, connects callers with a knowledgeable team of MGs who can help answer all of your gardening questions. The Alabama Master Gardeners (MGs) are standing by, ready to answer all garden-related questions on the Master Gardener Helpline. “These are beneficial insects that do not bite, sting, or harm humans or animals.” “Lightning bugs are not considered pests, except for the minor annoyance of feeding on larvae of beneficials like earthworms,” Huckabay said. People most often find these nocturnal insects active near wooded areas, shrubbery or in grassy areas. Larvae of these beetles are predators of other insect larvae, small insects, earthworms, slugs and snails. “Sometimes, some species will use their glow to attract other lightning bug species for prey.” “The glow patterns they give off are for the purpose of attracting mates,” she said. While many may have thought of fanciful reasons as to why these insects glow, Huckabay says the glow they give off is a natural process that is a key to their survival. Lightning bugs are one of the few insects that produce bioluminescence on their abdomens. “They are actually beetles (Coleoptera) and you find many different species in the South.” “Actually, they are neither true bugs (Hemiptera) or flies (Diptera), as both of these names would suggest,” Huckabay said. However, no matter what term you use, Ellen Huckabay, an Alabama Extension county coordinator in Baldwin County, said both of these names can be misleading. It is a debate that ranks with some of the best: are these creatures called lightning bugs or fireflies? Whether you feel strongly about one or the other-in most areas-people use these two terms interchangeably. ![]() An Alabama Cooperative Extension System professional provides some of the basic information on lightning bugs. The fascination surrounding these insects always invoke curious questions. – Many southerners have fond memories of catching lightning bugs on a summer’s night. ![]()
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