Lightning Bugs Habitat

Lightning bugs, also called as fireflies belong to the order Lampyridae. Lightning bugs are famous winged beetles that illuminate brightly during the dark night hours till the early dawn. The light is yellow, green or red in color and is actually their 'mating calls'. It is also produced in order to attract their prey. The lights that these little insects produce from their abdomen, do not have any ultraviolet rays or infrared radiations and have a wavelength range of 510 to 670 nanometers. There are more than 2000 lightning bug species found all around the world. For those of you who are fond of the lightning bugs and interesting facts about them, this article is arguably a treat. Lightning bugs habitat and their life cycle is briefly explained here.

Lightning Bug Life Cycle
Most commonly, lightning bugs are nocturnal and the diurnal species of fireflies are mostly non-luminescent. As said earlier, the lights are produced in order to attract opposite sex lightning bugs for mating. After mating, female lightning bug lays the eggs just below the ground level (sometimes on the ground as well). The eggs of the lightning bug hatch within 3 to 4 weeks and the larvae are produced that are fed till the end of the summer. The larvae of the lightning bugs are called as 'glowworms'. These larvae have simple eyes. Lightning bugs overwinter (spend their winter) during the immature or larval stage. Lightning bugs hibernate by burying themselves in the ground or hiding under the barks of the trees, until the spring appears. Frankly, spring is the lightning bug season!

After some weeks of feeding, the larva turns to pupa which is also called the pupal stage. They remain as a pupa for mere 1 to 2 weeks and then they emerge as adults. Larvae of most species of the lightning bugs are "specialized predators" and feed on other larvae, snugs and terrestrial snails. Some larvae are so specialized that they deliver digestive fluids directly on their prey making them physically broken. Diet of the adult lightning bug is variable. They find food on plant nectar and pollen, though some of the species are said to be predators. Lightning bugs are not edible and most of their species are distasteful. Sometimes, they are poisonous to their predators too.

Lightning Bugs Habitat
Most of over 2000 species of lightning bugs are nocturnal and hence, are mostly active during night. Lightning bugs habitats are especially all the small water bodies within dense woods and in decaying debris. They like to hide in the shrubby and overhanging trees and areas having high grasses, during the day time. There is a huge biodiversity of the lightning bugs in central and south America and tropical Asia. Sometimes, lightning bugs habitat are found under the logs and rocks of the dense forests as well. Hence, we can say that lightning bugs like warm environment and are found in more temperate regions. The regions having lots of vegetation and plenty of moisture. Regions having water streams, ditches, marshes and ponds are the lightning bugs habitat.

Lightning Bugs Facts
Here is some lightning bug information for those like me who are fascinated by the lightning bug pictures.

• Lightning bugs or fireflies are not flies and neither are they bugs, but they are beetles that can produce lights. Lightning bugs can light up during all stages of their lives, including larvae and pupae. In some species of lightning bugs, the eggs glow as well!
• In the immature stages of their lives, lightning bugs emit lights when they are disturbed which scares off their predators. During adult stage, lights are emitted to attract opposite sex for mating.
• The lightning pattern and color and time of lightning varies according to the species. That make is easy for them to find the mating partner of their own species.
• For mating call, males fly and make their presence felt to the female bugs, while females settle on the trees. This is an easy way of the lightning bugs to find their mating partners.
• Lightning bugs are soft bodied and their elytron are more leathery than the other insects. In many species, female and male lightning bugs have same appearance and sometimes, they also appear like the larvae. The only difference is that they have compound eyes.
• Light production of the lightning bugs is nothing but a chemical reaction called as Bioluminescence that occurs through special light emitting organs. The enzymes called as luciferase and luciferin are combined in presence of oxygen, ATP (adenosene triphosphate) and magnesium.

Catching the lightning bugs and keeping them in a glass jar can be a great game to play, especially for the kids. One can release them as soon as the day begins. Actually, the pulsating illumination of the lightning bug pictures a fascinating setting for people of any age. Today, due to several reasons like pollution, deforestation and overpopulation, the number of the lightning bugs is decreasing rapidly. There is a huge need to save lightning bugs habitat and to save this phenomenal species from being nonexistent.