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Common Firefly — printable fact sheet
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Common Firefly
Photinus pyralis
A firefly's glow is one of the most efficient light sources in nature: the reaction between luciferin and the enzyme luciferase releases almost all its energy as light and almost none as heat, which is why it is called "cold light" — a bulb of equivalent brightness would be scal…
Did you know?
- Some firefly larvae can glow underground, deterring predators even before they emerge as adults.
- Firefly light is nearly 100% efficient — almost no heat at all, which is why it is called "cold light". Each species has its own flash code: pulse count, timing and flight path act as a password between males and females. Photuris females counterfeit other species' answering flashes to lure males in and eat them — stealing their defensive chemicals in the process. Light pollution is a genuine threat: if the flashes cannot be seen, courtship fails.
What I learned
Draw the common firefly
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