What Makes Fireflies Glow
When Do Fireflies Light Up and for What
Since the muscles that transport oxygen work slowly, scientists have long wondered how they can blink so fast continuously. Recently it was found that it is nitric oxide that they use to control their glowing, and not oxygen. When there is no nitric oxide present in the body, the oxygen entering their light organ gets bound to the mitochondria (the energy-producing organelles of the cells) and is not available for producing light. But when nitric oxide is present, it itself binds to the mitochondria, freeing the oxygen to cause bioluminescence. However, nitric oxide decomposes fast, causing the mitochondria to re-trap the oxygen and put off the light. The process goes on.
Warding off possible predators that associate their lights with their bitter taste. Attracting mates; males of a particular species produce a certain pattern of light to attract females of the same species. Attracting prey (that could even be other fireflies).
So next time you watch the magical lighting show of the fireflies on a warm summer night, you know what it is for and how they do it. If you want to catch them in a jar, you now know that there should be a good oxygen supply to keep them glowing and alive.
