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Why do fireflies glow?

The short answer

At the end of a firefly's body, a chemical called luciferin mixes with oxygen and makes light with almost no heat. Males flash while flying and females answer, and each kind of firefly has its own flash code.

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Watch it in about a minute, here or on YouTube

A firefly can light up its own body without getting hot. Every flash is a secret message.

How do they glow?

At the end of its body, a chemical called luciferin mixes with oxygen. This makes light with almost no heat. The firefly turns the light on and off by controlling the oxygen.

Illustration from the video: How do they glow?

Why do they flash?

Mostly, they flash to find a partner. Males fly around flashing, and females answer from the plants below. Each kind of firefly has its own flash code.

Illustration from the video: Why do they flash?

Is it always safe?

But some females copy the flash code of another kind. When a male flies in, they eat them.

Illustration from the video: Is it always safe?

Sources

  1. Live Science: How do fireflies light up?
  2. Scientific American: How and why do fireflies light up?
  3. National Geographic Kids: Firefly
  4. Mass Audubon: Fireflies
  5. NC State News: How fireflies glow and what signals they're sending
  6. KQED: So... sometimes fireflies eat other fireflies
  7. Science (Lloyd, 1975): Aggressive mimicry in Photuris fireflies

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