• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Science / How do lightning bugs produce light?

How do lightning bugs produce light?

April 29, 2020 by Karen Hill

Lightning bugs, also known as flireflys, produce light through chemical reactions in little cells called photocytes, using a substance called luciferin.

When the enzyme luciferase is also present, the substances oxidize, creating a lot of energy. A spark of light is caused when the substances settle back down again.

It is still unclear why fireflies have this mechanism. It could be for mating purposes, to serve as a warning, or to attract prey.

The lightning bug is capable of controlling the speed and length of the flashes, and although bug specialists haven’t deciphered the code completely, the changes in pattern probably do change the meaning of the flashes.

Related Facts

  • Why do Fireflies and Lightning Bugs Glow in the Dark and what causes it?
  • What Is Light Made Of, Where Does Light Come From, and Why Is Light a Type of Electromagnetic Radiation?
  • What Is Ball Lightning, What Causes Ball Lightning, and Where Does the Electrical Phenomenon Come From?
  • When Lightning Strikes Water Do All the Fish Die and What Happens When Lightning Strikes a Ship at Sea?
  • Why Does Lightning Fork and Form Branches and How Large Is the Diameter of a Bolt of Lightning?
  • How Many Times Does Lightning Strike Around the World Each Day and How Hot Is a Bolt of Lightning?

Filed Under: Science

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « Did doctors once use maggots to cure infections and help heal wounds?
Next Post: What are glowworms and where do they come from? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2021 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy