A tiny light flashes in the dark. It is a firefly! Many fireflies make light in a special part of their bodies.
Fun fact: Fireflies are beetles, not flies.
Discover the chemistry, patterns, and cool efficiency behind a firefly's flashing light.
How Do Fireflies Glow?
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Inside that part, a substance called luciferin reacts with oxygen. An enzyme called luciferase helps the reaction happen, and light is produced.
Fun fact: The names luciferin and luciferase come from a Latin word connected with light.
Different kinds of fireflies flash in different patterns. The flashes help many fireflies find others of their own kind.
Fun fact: Some firefly species flash together in synchronized patterns.
Firefly light gives off very little heat compared with a light bulb. That is why this kind of living light is sometimes called cold light.
Fun fact: Firefly light may look yellow, green, or orange depending on the species.