Blinkies.

[pyat]

I am unsure if we have always had fireflies in the area and I just haven't noticed them, or whether they've moved in this summer. In any case, there they are. There were a couple in my backyard just now. The first I've seen locally in as long as I can remember.

It is also possible that catsarah's advice to pay closer attention to things while walking has paid off.

Fireflies are neat.

Comments

[leonard-arlotte.livejournal.com]

What's also neat is to get an empty jar like a pickle or mayonaise jar (with holes punched in the lid), and have the little ones go catching them. Fireflies are neat in that they are so ungainly when they fly that even a little kid can easily nab them out of the air and dump them in a jar. Before long you have a blinky jar that will fascinate all the kiddies.

(just be sure to let the bugs go at the end of the night)

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Not a bad idea, though we'll need a few more before I try it, I think.

[bodhifox.livejournal.com]

They are a good boat. Mine's a 03-K64-Firefly. You ain't seen them on your moon before? Reckon you just weren't lookin'.

[thebitterguy]

Browncoats represent!

[sassy-fae.livejournal.com]

*grins* You are geeky-awesome.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

That's no moon!

[shadow-maze.livejournal.com]

The fireflies are BACK, or that is how I see it.

I also grew up in the east end of Hamilton, but I have very clear memories of fireflies from my youth. I can even remember catching them in jars in my parents backyard.

But it was only one warm summer two or three years back, upon seeing some flash in my own garden, that I realized I had not seen them for many, many years, possibly twenty or more years.

At the time, I speculated they were recovering from some sort of environmental devastation, like some insecticide no longer popular had taken most of them out for a while. Or maybe they go on some long boom/bust cycle like other insects do.

Anyway, yes, we've a lot of fireflies now, and very nice to see them flashing through the flowers out back.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

I just read that their population declined because of light pollution. They were tricked into thinking it was day, and wouldn't flash, and therefore wouldn't mate.

I saw the first few last night in a garden with those solar moon lights, a kind that changed colour every few seconds. Maybe the rise in moon light use in gardens everywhere is putting them in the mood?

[catsarah.livejournal.com]

Fireflies are also one of those weird insects and females of the one species, Photurus, eat the males of another (Photinus). And thank you :) It's always nice to know at least some of my advice is heeded on occasion ;)

From http://extension.unh.edu/NHOutside/insects/

The females of the genus Photurus have evolved the ability to imitate the flash patterns of female Photinus (another genus of firefly), to attract Photinus males, whereupon she attacks and eats them. Because of this deceptive ability, Photurus females are often described as the femme fatales of the firefly domain.

By consuming a male Photinus, the female Photurus firefly gains both the nutrition from her prey's body and certain compounds (lucibufagins) it contains, which make her unappealing to certain predators such as the Phidippus jumping spider.

[bodhifox.livejournal.com]

Jeesh, why do you know this stuff? It's kinda creepy... I hope it hasn't given you any ideas! *shudders*

[catsarah.livejournal.com]

I are a natural science geek.

The degree in Psychology and Biology may help some too :)

And I have PLENTY of my own ideas ;) Believe me!

[bodhifox.livejournal.com]

Well I guess I'll have to make sure I never flash any patterns around you.

[catsarah.livejournal.com]

Your arse glows?? Coooool :D

Now how to get'm to let his guard down ;)

[pyat.livejournal.com]

If you flashed him first, it would probably distract him to no end.

[bodhifox.livejournal.com]

Now that's a good idea pyat has there...

*whistles, waiting*

[sassy-fae.livejournal.com]

I agree with the flashing first! I can help you with that, you've witnessed my willingness and efficiency in flashing members of the male species *grins*

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Yes, but do you consume their lucibufagins afterward, hmmm? *nudge nudge, wink wink*

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... it says their population declined because of light pollution. They were tricked into thinking it was day, and wouldn't flash, and therefore wouldn't mate.

I saw the first few last night in a garden with those solar moon lights, a kind that changed colour every few seconds. Maybe the rise in moon light use in gardens everywhere is putting them in the mood?

[zenten.livejournal.com]

They're still around where I grew up in Toronto, but we had the whole Don river valley system.

[thebitterguy]

The first time Cindy ever saw fireflies was when we went to Columbus for Origins.

We were staying in this old B&B on the outside of town, and the owner was out so it was just us and the house cat. And we looked out the window, and there they were, floating and glowing. It was pretty neat.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

They are very cool. One year, while driving to a con in Pittsburgh, I saw thousands on each side of the highway. It was very pretty, very dream-like.