Fireflies, or lightening bugs as they are sometimes called, are lighting up my night sky this week. The fireflies here are the largest and most numerous I have ever seen. Last night I could see the fireflies all the way across the valley and on the other side of the hills.
The fireflies were so bright the sky looked like it was being invaded by brilliantly lit spaceships. Nighttime temperatures must be above 50 F for fireflies to come out. Adult fireflies live for only 21 days so the next few weeks I'll be watching every night for their displays. Here the fireflies are high in the treetops and low to the ground. Other places I've seen them they have only been near the ground.
Fireflies communicate with their lights and they produce a cold light with no infrared or ultraviolet light. All larval fireflies glow. Some groups of fireflies are able to synchronize their flashes.
A forest in Tennessee is home to synchronous fireflies; the fireflies put on a display for tourists who camp out by the thousands to see them.
Legends say fireflies are visiting lost souls in the night sky. Perhaps one of the fireflies is Butter dancing in the night.
Do you have fireflies in your neighborhood? Please tell me about them. All images were borrowed from the net. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
