Tiny Lights Speak Louder Than Words

By Paige Terpstra -

A delicate glow splits the night wide open from just above the grass line, speaking, as if a shout, to everyone around who may take note of its existence. This tiny yellow scintilla of light calls potential mates closer, warns predators away, and, perhaps by accident, beckons curious children with their mason jars nearer. This insect, a staple of many childhoods, has been lovingly dubbed a firefly or lightning bug, though its nickname is misleading, as this creature is actually a beetle (Lewis). Nestled in the family Lampyridae under the order Coleoptera are over 2,000 different species of firefly, which reside in temperate and tropical regions all across the Earth (“Fireflies: How and Why They Light Up”). 

The namesake of the firefly (or lightning bug) is their glow, which certainly makes them stand out among many other insects. The light is produced when the compound luciferin reacts with air in the beetle’s abdomen, producing what is referred to as “cold light”, light that does not produce any heat (“Fireflies: How and Why They Light Up”). Scientists have hypothesized that this bioluminescence evolved largely to ward off predators, as these insects have a particularly pungent taste, which is unpleasant at best and downright toxic to some birds and mammals (Lewis). With a flash of light, fireflies are able to tell potential predators that taking a bite of them would be a choice they would regret. While many other species use bright colors to convey this message, bioluminescence is a more effective strategy for the firefly, as coloration would not be conveyed to predators through the darkness as well as light would (Lewis). The firefly’s glow has a romantic function as well– across species, the male or female may flicker their lights to express their desire to mate (“Fireflies: How and Why They Light Up”). In some firefly species found in South Carolina, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania, courting males will coordinate their flashes, all flickering at once to attract female attention (Lewis). 

Concerningly, studies have shown that some firefly species may risk endangerment or even extinction. In a 2021 study, 47% of firefly species were observed for 5 different criteria and sorted into ICUN red list categories. While only 2% of beetles are on the red list (meaning they are endangered), this study suggested that 14% of firefly species are vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered, meaning they make up a huge proportion of endangered beetles (Fallon). There are various reasons as to why firefly populations are decreasing. Some explanations could be climate change, wetland decline, droughts, and water mismanagement, which rob firefly larvae of moisture and can negatively impact their prey populations (Fallon). Light pollution from human civilizations also negatively impacts a firefly’s ability to find mates, as brighter lights make the firefly’s glow less visible to the opposite sex (Lewis). Lastly, pesticide use, particularly mosquito sprays which are often spread at dusk, when these beetles are most active, acts to harm breeding adults (Lewis).

URL: https://web.p.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=7&sid=236b1fc7-085f-4ca2-95f9-a6a5e0954fb2%40redis

Fireflies are not only wondrous insects from our youths; they have immense ecological and scientific value. In their respective ecosystems, larvae scavenge on dead leaves and berries and are predators of soft-bodied organisms like snails and worms (Fallon). Fireflies serve as vital indicator species due to their sensitivity to light pollution and other environmental stressors, and their behavioral and historical characteristics have made them good candidates for evolutionary, genetic, and behavioral research (Fallon). Eliminating unnecessary light pollution and pesticide use will minimize the damage that humans are contributing to firefly decline, and allow these insects to keep glowing for decades to come (Lewis).

URL: https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-firefly-season-lightning-bugs-pennsylvania-state-insect-20200709.html



References

Fallon, Candace E., et al. “Evaluating Firefly Extinction Risk: Initial Red List Assessments for North America.” PLoS ONE, vol. 16, no. 11, Nov. 2021, pp. 1–18. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259379.

“Fireflies: How and Why They Light Up.” EarthSky, 19 June 2022, earthsky.org/earth/fireflies-light-up-why-how/.

Lewis, Sara. “Silent Sparks.” National Wildlife (World Edition), vol. 60, no. 3, Apr. 2022, pp. 42–45. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=156409565&site=ehost-live.

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