Fireflies are lighting up!

Fireflies are showing up in Virginia again after a whole year! These beetles are certainly cool with their magical lights, but let's take a look at some other interesting things about them.

Firefly lighting up on my hand

Fireflies have the most efficient lights in the world because 100% of their energy is emitted as light! There are two chemicals in their tails that cause glowing under the right conditions. In most species, both the male and female light up. When the female sees an attractive male light up, she will signal it back. In some species, larva and even eggs glow. Fireflies only live about one year, from one mating season to the next.

Fireflies are also a great benifit to the ecosystem. Fireflies are predatory, and they balance out other insect populations. People also use the two rare chemicals in their tail for a ton of things, from disease treatments to spacecraft.

Catching fireflies is fun, but please make sure to release them later so they can help keep the ecosystem in balance.