There is a unique joy to seeing that first flash above the garden on a warm June evening in Iowa. For me, lightningbugs are not something I miss, but once they appear, it’s like, “How could I have summer without them?” And if, like me, you chased lightningbugs as a child, those memories come flooding back as well.
Now, as an adult and entomologist, I appreciate them in a whole new way. I know that the flash pattern is unique to each species. The males flying through the air are signaling back and forth with females that usually rest on vegetation. I also find it fascinating that some females mimic the flashes of other species and then eat the unsuspecting male that is attracted to her. It is a tough world out there!
Let’s nerd out about names and spelling for a moment. Here in the Midwest, I hear the term lightningbug most often, but in other regions of the country people tend to call them fireflies. Both names are completely correct.
The spelling of lightningbug is also up for debate. The Associated Press, which sets style guidelines for many publications, prefers lightning bug as two words. Entomologists often prefer lightningbug as one word because lightningbugs are beetles, not true bugs. Either spelling works just fine in my opinion.
Now that you're probably totally confused, let's talk about glowworms (guess what? They aren't worms, but we're just going to waltz right past that one!).
Glowworms are the immature form of lightningbugs. They live in the soil, in rotting logs, and anywhere else that stays moist. There, they spend their time hunting and feeding primarily on snails and slugs.
Most importantly, how do they glow? I think you would have to be a biochemist to really understand all the details, but basically lightningbugs have a chemical called luciferin that, with the help of an enzyme, oxygen, and energy, produces light.
All I really need to understand is that it is amazing and beautiful. Somehow, the fact that my brain cannot quite understand how it works makes it feel even more magical.
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