Young Scientists Love Fireflies

Through the summer months fireflies also known as lightning bugs and glowworms are like golden seeds sown throughout the night. They are best seen on warm damp nights from darkened homes. They thrive in forests, fields, and marshes near water. The purpose of all the flashing is to find mates.
  Observing these beetles is an excellent way to teach young scientists about insects. Fireflies like all insects have six legs. They have a small head covered by a large thorax shield. Their two antennae are long and are in constant motion.  Beneath grey wing covers is a pair of large dark veined wings folded when not in use. They also have an abdomen. Some segments underneath are sulfur yellow. These are the lamps that carry on chemical reactions to make light. Their larvae and eggs also glow.
  When children see fireflies during the day, teach that they are insect friends. The larvae kill snails, slugs, earthworms (unfortunately), and insects that are harmful to garden plants.
All About Glowing
  The adult’s sole purpose is to find a mate by glowing. The male’s glow part covers the entire end of the abdomen. In the female, only the middle portion of the abdomen is converted into a lamp. Fireflies produce cold light, the most efficient light in the world.  The chemical reaction is 100% light.
   During the day children enjoy looking at fireflies through a magnifying glass which can be part of a handy science box, along with small jars, spoons for picking up insect specimens, colored pencils and paper for drawing and printing a few words.
  Insects should not be handled. They can be harmful. If scared, fireflies shed drops
of blood that taste nasty to predators and can be poisonous to some animals.
Catch and Release
  To catch fireflies turn off all house lights. Go outside and aim a flash light covered with thin blue tissue paper at the ground, aim the light directly up and down quickly, or imitate the flash patterns (uncovered light) they may emit. Never shine a light directly on fireflies. You will scare them away.
  When close enough, catch your fireflies using a net. Place the caught fireflies into a clear jar with a lid that's been pierced to let in air and has a moistened paper towel inside to keep the air in the jar humid. Then fireflies can breathe and won't dry out.  They are very fragile.
   If they are not afraid they will continue flashing. Is there a pattern? Draw fireflies so you can find them later in daylight. Let them go within a day so your yard will have even more natural glows in the future.
  Families can check on line for more about Fireflies at http://creationwiki.org/Firefly. Also, to see the famous firefly light symphony of the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee and other National Parks at

http://www.firefly.org/synchronous-fireflies.html
Photos: 
Fireflies: https://www.flickr.com/photos/anitagould/2644364956/ & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Firefly_composite.jpg
Fireworks: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos 
More Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest