Four Firefly Forays Planned for the Wetlands

I had never seen a firefly before moving to the East Coast and now I rank them as my favorite insect. Any critter that can make their butt light up is pretty awesome in my book.

The Friends of James River Park think it’s pretty awesome as well and is hosting four chances to check them out: June 22, 23, 29 and 30. lightning bug

From Facebook:

Celebrate the summer with a fabulous display of fireflies! Fireflies emerge for a few weeks in the summer and use their bioluminescence to find a mate. Bring a chair, or a picnic blanket to sit and enjoy this amazing natural show and learn about fireflies in our area. Meet at the entrance to the Wetlands on Landria Drive. Superintendent Emeritus Ralph White will lead these special tours!

Learn 12 things about fireflies from Mother Nature Network. Number 11 is my favorite:

11. They have strange diets

Contrary to the storybook image of cute bitsy baby fireflies nibbling on flowers, the underground-dwelling larvae of the lightning bug are carnivorous and feast on slimy slugs, worms and snails. Once they grow up, some move on to cannibalism and eat other fireflies, but most subsist on pollen and nectar (while some don’t eat anything at all during their short lifetimes).