Plenty of bright ideas flying through the night skies

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

If you are trying to think of an idea for a great way to spend some quality time with your kids, maybe just poke your head outside after sunset and see if any light bulbs click on for you.

A very unique beetle, the lightning bug has been lighting up the Oklahoma sky for the past few weeks. A favorite pastime for many families is strolling around outside with an insect net and a mason jar, enjoying each others’ company and chasing these insects all over their backyards.

“I’ve gone out several times with my son this summer to see how many fireflies we could catch,” said Eric Rebek, associate professor in Oklahoma State University’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. “It’s great for me to be able to make these memories with him, and he is learning a lot without even knowing it because he has so much fun.”

We have all seen lightning bugs work their magic in the sky, but have you ever wondered why, or how they do it? In a word, it is called bioluminescence. Rebek helped with some smaller words to describe the phenomenon.

“It’s really just a chemical reaction that takes place in their abdomen. They mix up naturally produced chemicals (luciferin and luciferase), which causes them to light up,” he said. “They do it as a form of visual communication, usually for finding mates.”

Most of the fireflies seen flying around in Oklahoma are males. While it may not look like there is any method to their madness, every blink and turn they make has a purpose.

“The males will make a J-hook pattern, starting at the bottom of the “J” and curve their way up to finish the pattern,” Rebek said. “Each species will fly in a different pattern and do species-specific firefly dances.”

While the males are dancing the night away, females are typically laying low in vegetation, waiting to find just the right dance partner. However, do not take the girls as just lovers, rather they are sometimes quite sneaky predators.

“Some species of fireflies will lure in males of other species by mimicking their light patterns,” Rebek said. “She’s actually duping him into something he didn’t want to sign up for before she eats him.”

Both males and females can be captured during the day by sweeping the grass, but nighttime is the right time to witness all they have to offer. However, it is suggested to poke holes in the lids of any holding devices and to release any lightning bugs within a day or two, if not immediately following your enjoyment of these fascinating insects.