How and why do fireflies produce light?

This year. Nevertheless, fireflies are particularly visible in the Grande Métropole, offering a whole show of lights to Montrealers. Consequently, But how do they produce light, and why?

• Read also: More visible fireflies passionate Montrealers

What is a firefly? – How why do fireflies produce

La Luciole. For example, also called “Fire Mouche” or “shiny green”, is nevertheless part of the order of the beetles, that is to say insects which have a pair of hard wings, called elytra, to protect their fine wings of flight, like ladybugs.

<!–[if IE 9]><![endif]–>

Supplied by Ana Livia Oliviera

how why do fireflies produce

They are between 5 and 25 mm long, and have a two -year vital cycle, depending on Espace for Life.

According to the Association of Amateur Entomologists of Quebec. there are 19 different species in Belle Province, 73 in North America, including several in the United States threatened with extinction, for a total of barely more than 2,000 species around the world.

How do fireflies shine? – How why do fireflies produce

To issue light in their abdomen. fireflies produce a biochemical reaction to the aid of two substances already present in their bodies: Luciferin and Lucifrase.

When these mixed substances oxidize. that is to say that they come into contact with oxygen, they produce energy which is released in the form of light, according to space for life.

The fireflies how why do fireflies produce have only to control the air supply in their abdomen to start emitting light.

Why do fireflies produce light?

The flashing of fireflies serve several objectives: to communicate with the other fireflies. to dig up predators who would like to eat them, and to attract a partner to reproduce, according to the website of the Wildlife and Parks of the Ministry of the Environment of Quebec (MELCCFP).

Indeed. these signals allow them to locate themselves in the dark, to start the reproduction ritual during which the male will flash until a female responds to him in the same way.

Each species would have a unique flashing, which varies in number, sequence and color, can be read.

The females of a kind of fireflies called photuris are however capable of imitating the signals of other species of fireflies to attract males. devouring them.

how why do fireflies produce

<!–[if IE 9]><![endif]–>

AFP

To know

1. Unlike the light of our bulbs where 90% of the energy dissipates in heat, the energy of fireflies would emerge in light, which means that they remain cold during this process, according to the ministry.
2. Luciferin. Lucifrase are present from the larval state, and therefore, when a frog feeds on fireflies, we can see them shine in her belly, we can read.
3. At the time of New France. some masses were probably celebrated in the light of fireflies, which was placed in a jar to light the how why do fireflies produce altar, according to the MELCCFP.