LIGHTENING BUGS

One of my favorite things to do as a child was catch lightening bugs (a.k.a. fireflies).  Sometimes I would put them in a jar and admire them like a natural night light.  Other times I would squish their butts on my finger and pretend it was a shiny diamond ring. 

It wasn’t until I began teaching entomology that I learned that the twinkling light I was squishing on my finger was a chemical reaction.  When luciferin is acted upon by luciferase you get the flash of light (HINT:  science terms that end in “ase” hint that it is an enzyme.)  It might help to know that “lucifer” is Old English for “light-bringing” (dictionary.com).  Now all those science terms make a bit more sense!  To top it off, lightening bugs belong to the Family Lamphyridae!  As great as their scientific terms are, the common name “lightening bug” or “fireflies” stink.  They are not bugs, nor are they flies.  They are BEETLES.

Apparently, your name for this insect is regional.  Check out this site:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/66185/regional-breakdown-firefly-vs-lightning-bug