Last night, along the wooded line of the yard, there appeared to be hundreds of fireflies lighting up. It was the first time this season that I had seen some at night; I have seen plenty during the day. I have always loved to watch fireflies. One of my earliest memories of childhood is of watching fireflies one summer evening lighting up the backyard. I was kneeling on my bed, which had been placed under the window that faced the wooded back yard. My parents were sitting outside talking and enjoying the pleasant summer evening. Amazing the things you remember and what evokes those memories. Smells are famous for stimulating memories, but for me it is often a sight. It creates a sense of deja vu that sends me hunting in the memory bank for "where have I seen this before?"
You know me, I had to do a little research to understand more about fireflies. So here goes. The light created by these bugs is a result of a chemical reaction called chemiluminescence. Fireflies have specialized cells called photocytes which contain a chemical called luciferin. When oxygen and the enzyme luciferase act upon luciferin it is broken down releasing a short burst of light. Visit http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/KKhp/1insects/firefly.html for more information.
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