Flies on Fire....;....Fireflies!!

Fireflies or their cooler name "Lightning Bugs" are actually a type of beetle (so no they are not actually flies) in the order of Coleoptera. They get their name because they produce bio luminescent light from their abdomens which can be from 510 to 670 nano-meters in wavelength, this means they can produce yellow, green and pale red lights.

       Photo by Terry Priest 

Here are 10 cool facts about fireflies:

1) They are the worlds most efficient light producers

2) They communicate with light

3) Each species has their own flash pattern

4) Firefly larvae feed on snails

5) Fireflies can glow all throughout their life cycle 

6) Some can be poisonous

7) They are not flies or bugs, they are beetles

8) Some fireflies eat each other

9) They live for only about 2 months

10) There are over 2000 species of fireflies!

However, in recent years, scientists have noticed a decline in the population of fireflies, they are disappearing!! This has been attributed to human invasion of the fireflies natural habitat with things like:

1) Too much light at night

2) Use of pesticides

3) Deforestation

4) Rivers drying up

It would be such a shame if these beautiful creatures of the night were to turn off their lights for good, so at Toucheng Farm we try to create a healthy environment for them to thrive in. During the firefly season from around March to May you can see healthy population of fireflies in the farm. This is because of our well maintained environment. We have large forest, several streams and we do not turn on many lights at night.

Photos of Fireflies in Toucheng Farm