I’m a lightning bug
I am an insect

I can fly

I also have a tiny light

I’m also known as a firefly.

My light is essential in the mating process

We’re amazing insects of the beetle family and are mysterious and beautiful.

Children are very curious and interested in our short lived lives.

We capture their imagination as they capture us gently holding us in their hands as they place us in glass jars covered with a cap with holes punched in to enable us to breathe.

They watch us and are intrigued by our glowing lights and our tiny bodies including our wings and legs.

We are accustomed to warm climates and can be found all over the world by streams, in forests, parks, gardens, wooded areas, meadows, ponds and wetlands.

Scientists and entomologists have studied us and conclude that we’re neither bug, fly or worm though we have been identified as lightning bugs, fireflies and even glow worms.

We are six legged insects known as beetles that fly and emit light and our close relatives are the ladybugs.

Male lightning bugs reach full maturity so they develop wings but female lightning bugs don’t mature after they lay their eggs.

Therefore there are some species of lightning bugs where females don’t develop wings so they are unable to fly.

Fireflies or lightning bugs protect themselves in the bark of trees or in the grass.

Lightning bugs eat other types of insects smaller than they are such as mosquitoes, gnats, worms, spiders.

In their larvae stage they feast on snails, slugs, earthworms and other organic matter.

Lightning bugs are also attracted to flowers for their sweet nectar so they assist in nature’s pollination but not like the honey bees who are nature’s hardest workers responsible for producing all our crops, flowers and honey.

Lightning bugs breath through their muscles as they don’t have lungs and their lighting is affected by their intake of oxygen.

There are over 2,000 species of fireflies, lightning bugs in the world and they can be traced back almost 100 million years ago as evidenced by fossils discovered by archaeologists and entomologists.

Lightning bugs are known to emit lights during change in seasons in unison which is quite a sight to see which attracts visitors from all over to witness.

Lightning bugs and fireflies are represented in a song by the music artist Owl City. Fireflies is the title of the song and it is an emotional and wonderful song that he plays on a small type of piano in his room.

Insects play an important role in our ecosystem and all must be protected.

Lightning bugs usually live for only a few months if lucky enough and the life cycle from larvae to full adult is one year.

Children love to capture us in flight so they can watch us glow.

If you are lucky enough to catch me and place me in a jar please set me free after you study me and see my magic.

I’m a lightning bug.