WHY DO FIREFLIES PRODUCE INTERMITTENT LIGHT?

1) Male 2) Female 3) Larva
1) Male 2) Female 3) Larva

There are close to 2,000 species of fireflies that use a complicated light based vocabulary to communicate with each other and find potential mates of the same species.

The color of the light produced ranges from yellow to orange to green. Females don't fly, and males do most of the flashing. Each species of fireflies has a unique flashing pattern: 3 flashes about a second apart or a series of flashes in quick succession of different intervals and lengths.

To find a mate, the male flies about and when a female that is ready to mate recognizes the unique light produced by males of her species she responds and the male flies to her.

Researchers believe that fireflies also use their light to ward off predators. According to Firefly.org, even larvae in eggs will flash when disturbed.

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