Fireflies or Lightning Bugs…What do you Call Them?

I think it was about a week or two ago when I noticed something different on a warm summer night. I was standing outside my garage just after the sun had set and I noticed that lightning bugs were starting to appear. It brought back a lot of great memories from when I was younger, growing up in Missouri.

One of the great things to do in the Midwest in the summer months as a kid is going out with a Mason jar with holes punched in the lid and catching lightning bugs...or wait...is it fireflies?

Here's some facts that you probably didn't know about the Lampyridae (scientific name)...

Actually, did you know that lightning bugs, or fireflies are neither bugs or flies? They're beetles.

They are the most efficient light producers in the world. Unlike light bulbs, that give off heat when making light, fireflies produces light that allows them to glow without wasting heat energy. All 100% of the energy goes into making light.

Scientists believe fireflies communicate with each other using light signals. For warning signals some firefly eggs will emit a faint glow when disturbed.

Fireflies west of the Rocky Mountains don't communicate with their flash. Many people are under the impression that because they don't flash in that region of the United States, that they are non-existent. Not true. So, since fireflies are known for their blinking light signals, not all fireflies flash.

Maybe this will help to educate you for the upcoming firefly/lightning bug season.