RE: Fireflies

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Marilyn Dube'
Natural Designs Nursery 
Portland, OR 

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-perennials@mallorn.com [mailto:owner-perennials@mallorn.com]On Behalf Of Barb Pernacciaro
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2001 9:16 AM
To: Perennials
Subject: OT: Fireflies

I remember reading about attracting male fireflies with a penlight

flashlight somewhere once  - and noticing that this was definitely firefly

time, I searched the ‘net and came up with some information.

It all depends on what particular species is found in your backyard, but

this is the most common here in the Midwest:

 

The female firefly sits stationary on or near the ground while the males fly

about emitting a half-second flash about every 7 seconds, whereupon the

female gives her half-second flash 2 seconds later. The male flies closer

and repeats his flash in 7 seconds.

 

If you observe what interval your particular fireflies are using, you may

imitate the female and flash your penlight for half a second 2 or 3 seconds after

a particular male flashes to see if he comes closer. An interesting summer

evening activity, don’t you think, and one that kids may enjoy and that is

kinder to the lightning bugs that catching them in a jar to languish and die

for lack of love!

 

Barb in Wisconsin, which needs rain