As a child, I used to run after fireflies with my friends in the evenings. I would blow it again with my fist. I used to see how light came out of the stomach of an insect. How many memories of fireflies may be stored in our memory. No more running after fireflies. Not seen by hand. Maybe I grew up.
But do today's little children run after fireflies? Blow it again with your hands? While not a groundbreaking contribution to the genre, Firewall is one of the most sought after items in the industry.
Really, fireflies are no longer seen as before. Not to mention that evening of childhood. When the torch of light is lit, the fireflies do not come anymore. Gradually the firefly's light is going out. What happened is that the number of fireflies is suddenly decreasing so much? This article will try to know the answer to this question.
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★Some interesting facts about fireflies
Fireflies are actually a kind of insect. There are about two thousand species of fireflies in the world. However, not all species of fireflies have light. Surprisingly, not only adult fireflies produce light, but also firefly larvae, even their eggs.
Firefly light is the most effective light in the world. In other words, pure light. Because this light is all light energy. There is no power here except light. When light falls on an incandescent bulb, it contains only 10 percent of the light energy. Fluorescent bulbs, on the other hand, have 90 percent light energy and the remaining 10 percent heat energy. But the firefly's light is all light energy. That is why scientists call the light of fireflies as cold light.
Fireflies are carnivorous or insectivorous animals. Firefly larvae usually eat small snails or worms. However, some species of fireflies eat other fireflies as well. In particular, there is evidence that some female fireflies eat male fireflies.
Fireflies emit light from the body to reproduce. With this light, they basically try to attract their partner towards them. It has also been observed in some species that only male fireflies or only female fireflies can show light signals for reproduction. However, in most cases, both men and women can emit light. Male fireflies walk around with the lights on, while female fireflies wait for male fireflies in trees, shrubs or grass.As soon as a man approaches the firefly, the female firefly shows her light and sends him a signal of reproduction. However, they use this light not only for breeding, but also to communicate and warn predators.
When attacked, fireflies secrete a type of blood called 'reflex bleeding' from their body, which becomes bitter and toxic. This is why predators or insects do not include fireflies in their diet. However, the name of the firefly is in the diet of bats.
★Why are fireflies getting lost?
The firefly is an interesting insect that illuminates our night and also makes the environment beautiful and mysterious. Jonaki brings a strange feeling of love. The name of the firefly is written throughout the memories of many colorful nights of childhood.
But their wanderings are no longer as noticeable as before. The number of fireflies is decreasing day by day. Researchers are investigating the reasons behind the decline in the number of fireflies and have found several reasons. Most recently, in 2020, a team led by Sarah Lewis studied the reasons for the decline in the number of fireflies. There are several reasons including loss of housing, light pollution and use of pesticides.
★Fireflies are losing their habitat
Most species of fireflies grow as larvae in rotting wood and forests near ponds or reservoirs. Where they are born, in most cases they stay. Some species of fireflies prefer to be near water. Again some species are found in arid regions. However, most of them are found in fields, forests and wetlands. Warm, humid and aquatic environments for living, such as ponds, rivers or streams are preferred by fireflies.
The problem, however, is that their habitat is under threat today in the tide of global development. Open fields or forests are all disappearing. Wetlands are also being occupied. New buildings are being erected. Modern boats, ships floating in the water. After all these developments, they are no longer getting the environment and darkness that it takes for fireflies to live. As their habitat is trapped in development, so is their numbers.
Sarah Lewis, a professor of biology at Tufts University, said many animals on Earth are now on the verge of extinction. The same thing is happening with fireflies. Fireflies need special environmental conditions to complete their life cycle. When fireflies lose these conditions, their numbers continue to decline in the next generation.There is a species of firefly (Pteroptyx tener) in Malaysia, which can show exceptional light. These fireflies need mangrove forests to live and breed. However, due to the proliferation of palm trees and farmland in place of mangroves in Malaysia, breeding of this species is facing problems. Gradually their number is also decreasing.
The number of fireflies that live along the banks of the river in the mangrove forests of Thailand is also decreasing day by day. The waves caused by motorized boats are eroding across these rivers, destroying the habitats of fireflies. Moreover, the normal life of the fireflies is being disrupted due to the lights used in these boats.