Fireflies are neither flies nor true bugs . They are nocturnal members of the family Lampyridae . These insects live in a variety of warm environment as well as in more temperate regions . They love moisture and often live in humid regions of the Asia and Africa . There are more than two thousand species present all over the world except Antarctica.
Most of these insects are winged and have hardened wings called Elytra , which help them fly . They are mostly found around the wet or damp area that retain moisture and it’s easy to observe different varieties of species in a single location . They are characterized by the presence of committed light organs located under its abdomen. Flashes emerge from this organ is the sparkle communication between male and female .
Luciferin is the substance produced due to the intake of oxygen into a specialised cell by the insect which causes the glow of light without releasing much heat .They emit light in a typical pattern . Scientists are not sure how the insects manage this process of turning their light on and off.
Most of the time they are in larval stage . They can occupy up to two years in this larval stage. After the conversion into the adult, they live only a couple of weeks doing nothing but mating and laying eggs.Fireflies seen in our backyard are the successful mating from two year back . They are mostly seen in summer and some species in winter also. But the winter fireflies don’t emit light and they hide in bark of trees.
Reference : National Geographic
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