June 29

Fireflies

A summer night isn’t complete without fireflies!

 

A firefly is not a fly, but a beetle. While it is also called a lightning bug, it’s actually not a true bug either.

Like all beetles, a firefly has three body parts, six jointed legs, antennae, and compound eyes. There are also two sets of wings (one of which is hardened). A beetle’s wings meet in a straight line.

A firefly’s life cycle consists of four stages – egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Therefore, this beetle moves through complete metamorphosis. Fireflies lay their eggs in soil. An adult firefly only lives about two months.

Bioluminescence, a chemical reaction that produces light, is the attribute that attracts attention.
Not all fireflies glow, but those males that do, use their light to attract mates. The light also reminds predators that they are not tasty. Each species has their own pattern of light flashing. A firefly’s light is energy efficient because 100% of its energy goes into producing light. Even the larval stage of the firefly can glow!

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After reading Sam and the Firefly, my kindergarten students used a yellow pastel to write “good word tricks” like Gus the firefly did. Sometimes, we painted yellow words on a blue mural background. Do you see the illustrator’s errors when he drew the firefly’s body? Add the study of fireflies to a nocturnal animal unit.

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This is an entertaining and informative story that is an excellent addition to any library!

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Click here and here for fun labs about fireflies.

Simultaneous bioluminescence occurs only in Southeast Asia and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Click here to learn about the synchronous firefly light show in Tennessee.

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna make it shine!”


Posted June 29, 2022 by pbright2 in category Art, Reading, Science

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