The chemical process that gives fireflies their glow is called bioluminescence.
"When oxygen combines with calcium, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the chemical luciferin in the presence of luciferase, a bioluminescent enzyme, light is produced." (www.scientificamerican.com).Basically when reading I found that the fireflies have a gene called LUC gene. And the presence of a substance called Lucifrase in their cells. These drive the chemical process, using oxygen and/or nitrous oxide, that produces light.
An interesting fact about fireflies is that the light they produce is "cold" light. Their organs would not sustain the heat involved if fireflies produced "hot" light.
Here is a youtube video of a firefly caught by a spider.
And here is a video of fire flies in action.
Because it is fun fact Friday we're not focused on pests in our writing today! But, as always I am available for pest control services for all kinds of pests including, spiders, ants, fleas, termites, cockroaches, mice, rats, bedbugs and more! Give me a call if you need pest control service in Portland, Vancouver or Seattle.
Micah Wood
Peak Pest Management
503-998-4322
360-607-1933
206-790-8285
www.peak-pest-management.com
micah@peak-pest-management.com
Branham, Mark: Ask The Experts "How and Why Do Fireflies Light Up?" Scientific American 5, September 2005 http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-and-why-do-fireflies
Environmental Science "How do fireflies light up?" How Stuff Works 1998-2012
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/insects-arachnids/question554.htm
Genetic Science Learning Center. "What Makes a Firefly Glow?." Learn.Genetics7 September 2012 http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/dna/firefly
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