Wikijunior:Bugs/Firefly
From Wikibooks, the open-content textbooks collection
Contents |
[edit] What does it look like?
Have you ever been in a field at night and sometimes seen little flying specks of light around? Well, if you were to look at one up close you'd realize that these lights are really bugs! These bugs are called fireflies. When you look close-up, you can see that fireflies have soft bodies, compound eyes and a bright, glowing rear end. The firefly's larvae look almost exactly like fully grown fireflies, except that they don't have the compound eyes the adults have.
[edit] Where does it live?
Fireflies (or lightning bugs, as they are called in some parts in the United States) are found everywhere in the world, usually in marshes and forests; places that have enough food for the firefly's young. The firefly is so widespread, that in some parts of the United States, the firefly is known by both the name firefly as well as the term "lightning bug".
[edit] What does it eat?
Fireflies are predatory when young, but as adults they usually eat honey and nectar. This mixed diet depends on the type of species of firefly as there are around 2,000 different firefly species! The larvae of the firefly mainly eat the larvae of snails and slugs. They catch their prey usually by spitting digestive fluids (like spit and stomach acid) at their prey using organs near their mouth known as mandibles.
[edit] How does it defend itself?
It is not well known how fireflies actually protect themselves, but it could be presumed that fireflies may do the same as how their larvae catch their prey (by spitting digestive fluids) to protect themselves. The firefly larvae may also do this process of protection.
[edit] What stages of metamorphosis does it go through?
The firefly goes through the four-stage type of metamorphosis known as holometabolism. The firefly starts life as an egg and in three to four weeks hatch into larvae. The larvae hatch mainly in the spring and already glow like the adult firefly. For this reason, the larvae of some firefly species are known as glowworms. Most of the time, the firefly larvae will stay in this stage until the next spring. Then they go into the pupal stage for approximately two weeks. Finally, they emerge as adult fireflies; however, some firefly larvae won't reach the pupal and adult stage for a few years, depending on the species.
[edit] What special behavior does it exhibit?
The firefly's well known behavior is its bright rear end, which is used usually around mating. The process that makes the firefly's rear end glow is known as lighting, which is caused by the firefly's special organs inside itself. Most species of firefly are also nocturnal. Some species of firefly surprisingly do not have the glowing rear end, and are diurnal, which means that they are active at daytime like humans are. Some of these non-bright species glow when they are under shade, though.
[edit] How does this bug affect people?
The firefly is known for being part of different people's cultures. In ancient Mayan folklore, the firefly used to be associated with the stars. In ancient China, fireflies were caught and used to light lanterns. In modern times, the firefly is known for being the state insect of Pennsylvania.
