Fireflies
- katemacquarrie22
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
We humans tend to divide insects into two camps. There are those we don’t like (Earwigs, I’m looking at you!), and those we do, with no better example than Fireflies. I captured this lone Firefly’s flash at my home in central PEI recently and thought it’s time we took a closer look at these interesting insects!
Fireflies are beetles, not flies, and not all have ‘fire’ – many species are daytime-fliers that use pheromones, rather than light, to communicate. The night-flying, flickering Fireflies we’re most familiar with – also known as Lightning Bugs – are less than an inch (2.5 cm) long but produce a flash that belies their tiny size, thanks to a chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of light without heat. Fireflies use their light not only to find mates, but also to warn off would-be predators (most Fireflies are toxic).
The colour, pattern, duration, location, and interval between flashes signals the species of Firefly to potential mates, as well as to us Firefly-watchers. For example, PEI’s common Spring Treetop Flasher (Pyractomena borealis) emits a half-second amber flash every two to three seconds, high in the tree canopy of deciduous and mixed forests. Say’s Firefly (Pyractomena angulata) has rapid bursts of light in groups, giving it a flickering appearance every three or four seconds. The Firefly shown here has one short amber flash every five seconds, and it was moving slowly about a metre above the ground, suggesting it might be an Ignited Firefly (Photinus ignitus); I’m hoping to catch one to find out for sure.
If you feel Fireflies are less common than they once were, you’re right. Their two biggest threats are habitat loss and light pollution, but the good news is there are things each of us can do to help. Pavement, gravel, and manicured lawns are enemies of Fireflies, so let a corner of your yard or garden go wild if you can, and don’t clean things up too early in spring. Artificial lighting interferes with Fireflies’ communication, making it hard for them to find mates. Turn off outdoor lighting during Firefly season (or keep lights on a motion detector so they only shine when needed). And, of course, avoid pesticide use whenever possible.
Sitting outside on a calm summer night, letting your eyes adjust to the dark as our ancestors did, and taking in the sights and sounds of the nocturnal world is a fantastic way to reconnect with PEI Untamed!
