Lightning Bug
Earlier this summer I went out in the woods behind my house, searching for insects to submit to this website. I found more than a few bugs, but nothing wanted to stand still long enough for me and my little camera to take a good photo. I must have been out there for an hour or so, crawling around the woods in search of some Really Cool Bug ™, but in the end I came back with shots that were blurry, and just not very good.
Defeated, I walked into my backyard, and paused. Did something just move on the fence? A closer look revealed this little beauty! I was really pleased, because I don’t often find Lightning Bugs during the day time, and I personally think they look pretty cool.
While researching fireflies (a different name, but the same bug) I came across something interesting that I thought I’d share since it was definitely news to me. Apparently their light-up butts* contain luciferin and luciferase, two rare chemicals used in research on cancer, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, and heart disease! I don’t know what kind of results they’re getting, but I think it’s pretty cool that something that fuels so many childhood evenings with a bit of magic and fun could also help save people from pain, disease, and even death!
*Heheheheh. Butts. Yes, I am a child. Why do you ask?
Slowly getting the site back onto an even keel. It's nice to get back into the old posting rhythm.
tceisele said,
July 31, 2008 @ 7:16 am
I’m not sure if they still do it, but back in the mid-1980s the catalogs I got from the Sigma Chemical Company had sections in them describing their network of clubs for kids, the “Sigma Fireflies”. The kids would form local clubs that would catch and sell fireflies to Sigma so that the luciferin and luciferase could be extracted.
I haven’t heard anything about the Sigma Fireflies for a while now, it is possible that they’ve gotten the cost of synthesizing the chemicals low enough that it is no longer worthwhile to pay kids a penny apiece for fireflies.
Andrew said,
July 31, 2008 @ 7:31 am
Apparently in Thailand (and other parts of Southeast Asia), some species of fireflies will sync their flashes, so instead of individual random flashes, you’d see whole trees light up then fall dark.
Source: Radiolab
David Brady said,
July 31, 2008 @ 10:31 am
BTW, I’ve started tracking buffer status on my twitter account. Buffer is currently 13 slotted, 1 written. (I missed my slot 1, write 2 goal yesterday because I was working on the other kind of bug–a defect in the software I was writing for my day job. Didn’t get out of the office until 2AM. Wheeeee!)
operaticus said,
July 31, 2008 @ 11:45 am
Nice photo, JFargo. Keep up the great work!
Fireflies are pretty cool little critters. I haven’t seen one in person since I moved back to the U.S. from South America.
Rosie said,
July 31, 2008 @ 11:59 am
Can you believe this is the first time I have ever commented on a site like this? I hope it’s ok. I just got really interested in the fireflies. Sigma no longer has its firefly club…which may be a good thing for firefly populations according to this article called “Summer flings: firefly courtship, sex, and death.” by Sara Adler,and James E. Lloyd. You can find it on findarticles.com This article also has some other intersting stuff about fireflies.
Also you can find more really cool information about fireflies and cancer reserach athttp://www.acfnewsource.org/science/fireflies_cancer.html
Keep posting! I learn so much from all of you.
Beth said,
August 2, 2008 @ 7:36 am
You’re no more a child than I am — I still call them “glowbutts”