As boys would do; we would catch as many Lightning Bugs as possible and smear the glowing bodies on our faces to play GI Joe Commando. My cousins and I would divide up into teams and start hiding in the orchard or corn field with water guns, working out way around to blast the opposing team and win our game of war.
This week as we sat outside on the upper deck at the big house on 1018 Orchard Hills Drive, it was the first time in years that I have seen so many Lightning Bugs. It was such a wonderful sight, relaxing and memory provoking. I truly felt that I have returned to area of the country that I call home.
So what exactly are Lightning Bugs (Fireflies)? They are members of a particular family of the Beetle Order. The Firefly Family is technically known as the Lampyridae.
Lightning Bugs are beetles. They can't be "flies" as their name suggests because "flies" are members of the Fly Order. Glow-worms, which produce light similar to Lightning Bugs', also are beetles, but they belong to a different though closely related family, the Phengodidae. There are many Lightning Bug species
Flashing Lightning Bugs are trying
to attract mates. Among most but not all species of North American Lightning Bugs,
males fly about flashing while females perch on vegetation, usually near the
ground. If the female sees a flasher and she's ready to mate she responds by
flashing right after the male's last flash. A short flash dialogue takes place
as the male flies closer and closer, and then, if all goes well, they mate.
Man, if just half the bugs we saw
this week found mates, it was a happy night here in middle Tennessee. Maybe I
will capture a few and play GI Joe, wonder if Paul will like to get hit with a
water balloon.. hmmmm..
No comments:
Post a Comment