firefly

(also ‘lightning bug’)

a firefly

a kind of insect – belongs to beetles – size differ widely: from 1/5 of an inch to 1 inch; feeding: the larvae feeds on (eats) on other insects’ larvae, land snails and slugs, and the adults feed on plant pollen and nectar or some experts believe that they do not eat at all (?); lives for 2-3 months; about 2000 species found near ponds, streams or even ditch (wet places) in the tropical and temperate zones around the world

a firefly in flight

Special Features:
Though the name has ‘fly’ in it, the firefly is not a ‘true fly’; it is an insect that belongs to the ‘beetles’.

The amazing feature of the firefly is that it glows at the end of the lower side of its abdomen, like a small bulb that flashes on and off, which in science is called “bioluminescence”  (in common usage: ‘cold light’).

This is called ‘cold light’ because the firefly does not give out any heat though it gives out the light!

The ‘cold light’ given by the firefly is yellow, green or light red.

The firefly uses this light to attract mates or to warn off enemies!

The eggs and the larvae also glow.  (The electric bulbs we use in homes give out more heat and less light; the firefly gives out more light but little or no heat at all!)

Not all firefly species glow; and not all beetles that glow are fireflies.

Language Usage: The traditional grammar rule says that when the word ‘fly’ is used with another word, for the name of an insect, without an hyphen (-), that insect is not a ‘true fly’, for example, ‘dragonfly’, ‘firefly’, ‘mayfly’ ‘damselfly’, etc. (These insects are typically with two pairs of wings, i.e. a total of four wings.), but when the word ‘fly’ is used with another word with an hyphen (-) or as two separate word, that insect belongs to the ‘true fly’ family, for example, ‘fruit fly’, ‘blow-fly’, ‘flesh fly’, etc. (These ‘true flies’ are typically with only one pair of wings, i.e. a total of two wings only.)  However, this rule is not strictly followed by all; we, at the basic level, are advised to note the difference and make the distinction by using or not using the hyphen depending on the insect we refer to!
Compare: glow worm

About the Author:BC Kumar

BC Kumar, an English Language Teacher, taught in numerous countries including Ethiopia, Oman and India, shares his knowledge and passion for the English Language. Disclaimer: This is a free educational website and all content has been compiled by the author. All copyrights to images and videos belong to their respective owners.

Comments are closed.