Lighting Bugs are back

            There is, in my estimation, no greater marvel on this planet than the Firefly; a bug that produces light without burning up.

            Remove the glass from a light bulb and turn it on. The flash is momentary but you will get the idea that it is very hot; that’s how we produce light. The Lighting bug produces light without heat; something we have only dreamed of since man first burned his fingers changing a spent 100 watt light bulb.

            Cold light; the closest we come to that phenomenon is the LED light; this little insect produces it without realizing the wonder of it all.

            Only the males fly; the females are ground bound and are referred to as Glow Worms. They blink at each other to attract a mate. She watches, he watches, she see a good bright handsome light, she flashes back, he comes in for a landing; pretty soon they’re both sharing a cigarette.

            I have notice that when they light they fly up a foot and then settle back down; flying as if they were the line on a heart monitor. I don’t know why they do this, just something I noticed one day.

            In researching them there is not much out there on what they actually do, why they are here; their lighting ability eclipses any function they may have. So I’m believing they were created just for our enjoyment.

            I remember one night about 7 - 8 years ago my daughter Chelsea and I were in the backyard watching a fire fly display we both have not seen since. It was slightly foggy, just a hint of mist in the nighttime air, and out over the farmer’s fields around us were thousands of twinkling lights. We just stood there together watching that magical moment in awe and wonder.