The mating flights are so limited in time. The males have to signal and watch for the females signaling on the ground. Unfortunately there is a predator that resembles a female lightning bug who will signal and the poor male gets devoured instead of mating.
Photuris fireflies are sometimes referred to as femme fatale fireflies because the females mimic the light signals of other firefly species to attract, kill, and eat them. […]
So every night, she adds, male fireflies are out there flying a fine line between sex and death.
Since moving here 22+ years ago and not using pesticides we have had fireflies, dragonflies, lizards, toads, tree frogs, box turtles, butterflies and moths(the large ones at night), wood bees, and all manner of birds! But no squirrels! Maybe too many cats/dogs around.
No fireflies in Arizona, but I really enjoy driving through Missouri after sundown. They also leave green streaks on the windshield that glow for several minutes.
over 6 years ago
He’ll never get a mate at this rate.
Nyckname over 6 years ago
Only time I’ve ever seen fireflies was around the end of July. Just sayin’.
david_42 over 6 years ago
Don’t have them on the West Coast, at least not in any of the places I’ve lived or been to.
Herb L 1954 over 6 years ago
Go ahead and start without her ;)
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 6 years ago
The mating flights are so limited in time. The males have to signal and watch for the females signaling on the ground. Unfortunately there is a predator that resembles a female lightning bug who will signal and the poor male gets devoured instead of mating.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 6 years ago
Photuris fireflies are sometimes referred to as femme fatale fireflies because the females mimic the light signals of other firefly species to attract, kill, and eat them. […]
So every night, she adds, male fireflies are out there flying a fine line between sex and death.
https://www.livescience.com/4640-firefly-flash-bring-sex-death.html
Yakety Sax over 6 years ago
Since moving here 22+ years ago and not using pesticides we have had fireflies, dragonflies, lizards, toads, tree frogs, box turtles, butterflies and moths(the large ones at night), wood bees, and all manner of birds! But no squirrels! Maybe too many cats/dogs around.
cuzinron47 over 6 years ago
Maybe you should post that a match.com.
Seed_drill over 6 years ago
We call them lightning bugs around here, and they’re still quite active this time of year.
lee85736 over 6 years ago
No fireflies in Arizona, but I really enjoy driving through Missouri after sundown. They also leave green streaks on the windshield that glow for several minutes.
TIMH over 6 years ago
I grew up in Howard County, Maryland and we had lightning bugs from late May to early September.