Luminescence

I didn't grow up where there are fireflies. In my head they made luminescent patterns for long periods of time similar to a glowing suspended highlighter twirling through the sky at dusk. I think, because of me thinking of them as having this more sustained glow, I never really liked using lightning bug to describe them. Now that I've seen them, lightning bug describes them a little better, but I still prefer firefly.

A few years back, when I was seduced into science at a large national conference, I listened to an entomologist describe his contribution to the field of insect chemistry. It was there I learned about the steroids in fireflies that are not tasty to predators and are a huge part of their defense mechanism. Also, since female fireflies (photuris) are not born with their own steroids, they must get them somehow. So, they imitate male mating signals to attract, kill and devour them (like in that picture). This way the female fireflies can incorporate the steroids into their own systems and pass them on to their (male) young. It really changed the way I thought about the back and forth in the flashing signals, and now when I look at all that sparkling prettiness I just keep the fact of a little too much femme fatale going on filed way back in my mind.

This year, I've already seen them out flashing and glowing. It's funny because to me they look like slow awkward black mosquitos, and when I see one flying and am not so sure, I'll stop and give it about 20 seconds to see if it will flash. As I was running at twilight, I wondered what would happen if one flew in my mouth. Would my mouth go all luminescent for a second? Would I get sick from the steroids? Even with all of this thinking and not painting them in their usual magical light - they make me smile. I get so happy when I see them, that sometimes I can't help to laugh out loud even when I'm by myself.

It wasn't until last year that I learned about synchronized luminescence. Some of these fireflies form quorums and glow in rhythm together. Secretly, one day, I really hope to see it. I can only imagine the awe and wonder and would count it as a clear indication of God's love for His children. On a weedy clover pocked hill by the house I saw more than twenty and even though they were not fluorescing all at the same time, there was a randomness to the glowing that stopped me in my tracks. I felt kind of silly and tried to stifle my ear-to-ear grin when I saw a person come up behind me. Couldn't help it though.

Isn't bioluminescence fantastic? This is one example of how, for me, knowing the science behind this phenomena makes it even more fascinating.