Some beautiful chemistry
“Wah-wah-taysee, little fire-fly, Little, flitting, white-fire insect, Little, dancing, white-fire creature, Light me with your little candle …”
From “The Song of Hiawatha” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Like lightning itself, lightning bugs (the term my mother used) are tough to photograph. But that’s OK; it’s reward enough simply to watch them do their enchanting magic.
A firefly’s glow is a chemical reaction caused by an organic compound – luciferin – in their abdomens. As air rushes into a firefly’s abdomen, it reacts with the luciferin, causing the chemical reaction that gives off light.
As you may have suspected, the light show is not strictly for the delight of us humans; fireflies shine their little lights to notify predators of their bitter taste and to attract mates.
(Internet photo)
