A bug that glows in the night. firefly insect

Fireflies can appear and disappear in a certain area.

Their habitat is prairie, steppe and pampa.

Various varieties of fireflies are found in North and South America, Europe (UK), Russia, Asia (China, Malaysia and India), New Zealand, Australia.

Fireflies hunt snails small size and slugs, and they should be looked for in such places, this prey. It is easier to observe insects from May to July, when they. Fireflies are visible in the evening, for about two hours after dark. Fireflies are much less likely to be found in the forest than in open lands covered with grass, or near hedges. However, the insects are not found near lands fertilized for agriculture.

Firefly colony in Malaysia

A large colony of fireflies is found near Kampung Kuatan, a small settlement near Kuala Selangor in Malaysia, on the coast of the Strait of Malacca. These fireflies belong to the Lampyridae family. The insect colony aroused the interest of entomologists back in the 70s of the 20th century.

The natural park now open to the general public at this location is a combination of tropical and swamp forest. Fireflies live only in the mangrove forests of this 296-hectare reserve. During the day, they move into the grasses growing next to the mangrove trees. When night falls, they move to the mangroves along the banks of the river. On trees they feed on the sap of their leaves. Females and males of the insect glow in the dark with a greenish flickering light, attracting each other to mate.

Each tree can be home to a different subspecies of fireflies, and this is noticeable by their flickering, which differs from the glow of fireflies of another subspecies in the frequency of flickering.

Since 2000, the number of fireflies in the reserve has decreased significantly. Local residents believe that the reason is the construction of a dam in the upper reaches of the river.

Fireflies of Great Britain

On British Isles There are fireflies of the Lampyris noctiluca family. Although members of this family are thought to prefer limestone soils, they have been observed in the most different parts Great Britain.

Fireflies are found in gardens, on hedges, and on railway embankments. Most often they can be found on abandoned railways. Insects are also observed on steep cliffs, wooded areas, heaths, and glens in Scotland and Wales.

Fireflies are also found on the island of Jersey, which is protected by the United Kingdom.

In general, fireflies are much more common in the southern part of the British Isles.

Living glow

“...at first there were only two or three green dots blinking, smoothly gliding among the trees.
But gradually there were more of them, and now the entire grove was illuminated by a fantastic green glow.
We have never seen such a huge concentration of fireflies.
They rushed in a cloud among the trees, crawled through the grass, bushes and trunks...
Then sparkling streams of fireflies floated over the bay..."

J.Darrell. "My Family and Other Animals"

Probably everyone has heard about fireflies. Many have seen them. But what do we know about the biology of these amazing insects?

Fireflies, or fireflies, are representatives of a separate family Lampyridae in the order of beetles. In total there are about 2000 species, and they are distributed almost all over the world. The sizes of different types of fireflies range from 4 to 20 mm. The males of these beetles have a cigar-shaped body and a fairly large head with large hemispherical eyes and short antennae, as well as very reliable and strong wings. But female fireflies are usually wingless, soft-bodied and resemble larvae in appearance. True, in Australia there are species in which wings are developed in both males and females.

All types of fireflies have the amazing ability to emit a soft phosphorescent light in the dark. Their luminous organ is photophore– most often located at the end of the abdomen and consists of three layers. The lower layer acts as a reflector - the cytoplasm of its cells is filled with microscopic crystals of uric acid that reflect light. Upper layer is represented by a transparent cuticle that allows light to pass through - in short, everything is like in a regular lantern. Actually photogenic, light-producing cells are located in the middle layer of the photophore. They are densely intertwined with tracheae, through which air with the oxygen necessary for the reaction enters, and contain a huge number of mitochondria. Mitochondria produce the energy necessary for the oxidation of a special substance, luciferin, with the participation of the corresponding enzyme, luciferase. The visible result of this reaction is bioluminescence - glow.

Coefficient useful action firefly lanterns are unusually high. If in an ordinary light bulb only 5% of the energy is converted into visible light (and the rest is dissipated as heat), then in fireflies 87 to 98% of the energy is converted into light rays!

The light emitted by these insects belongs to the rather narrow yellow-green zone of the spectrum and has a wavelength of 500–650 nm. There are no ultraviolet or infrared rays in the bioluminescent light of fireflies.

The luminescence process is under nervous control. Many species are capable of decreasing and increasing the intensity of light at will, as well as emitting intermittent light.

Both male and female fireflies have a luminous organ. Moreover, the larvae, pupae, and even the eggs laid by these beetles glow, although much weaker.

The light emitted by many tropical firefly species is very bright. The first Europeans to settle in Brazil, in the absence of candles, lit their homes with fireflies. They also filled the lamps in front of the icons. Indians, traveling at night through the jungle, still tie to thumbs on the legs of large fireflies. Their light not only helps you see the road, but also possibly repels snakes.

Entomologist Evelyn Chisman wrote in 1932 that some eccentric ladies South America and the West Indies, where especially large fireflies are found, before the evening holidays they decorated their hair and dress with these insects, and the living jewelry on them sparkled like diamonds.

You and I cannot admire the glow of bright tropical species, but fireflies also live in our country.

Our most common big firefly(Lampyris noctiluca) is also known as " Ivanov the worm " This name was given to the female of this species, which has an elongated wingless body. It is her rather bright flashlight that we usually notice in the evenings. Male fireweeds are small (about 1 cm) brown bugs with well-developed wings. They also have luminescent organs, but you can usually notice them only by picking up the insect.

In the book by Gerald Durrell, the lines from which are taken as an epigraph to our article, it is most likely mentioned flying firefly -Luciola mingrelica beetleLuciola mingrelica, found not only in Greece, but also on the Black Sea coast (including in the Novorossiysk area), and often stage similar fantastic performances there.

Photinus pyralis in flight

And in Primorye you can find a rare and little-studied firefly pyrocoelia(Pyrocaelia rufa). Both males and females of this species glow actively on dark August nights.

In Japan live Luciola parva and Luciola vitticollis.

It is believed that the bioluminescence of fireflies is a means of intersexual communication: partners use light signals to let each other know about their location. And if our fireflies glow with a constant light, then many tropical and North American forms blink their lanterns, and in a certain rhythm. Some species perform real serenades for their partners, choral serenades, flaring up and dying out in unison with the entire flock gathered on one tree.

And the beetles located on the neighboring tree also flash in concert, but not in time with the fireflies sitting on the first tree. Also, in their own rhythm, the bugs glow on other trees. Eyewitnesses say that this spectacle is so bright and beautiful that it outshines the illumination of large cities.

Hour after hour, weeks and even months, the bugs blink on their trees in the same rhythm. Neither wind nor heavy rain can change the intensity and frequency of outbreaks. Only the bright light of the moon can dim these unique natural lanterns for a while.

You can disturb the synchronization of flashes if you illuminate the tree with a bright lamp. But when the external light goes out, the fireflies again, as if on command, begin to blink. First, those in the center of the tree adapt to the same rhythm, then neighboring beetles join them and gradually waves of lights flashing in unison spread throughout all branches of the tree.

Males of different species of fireflies fly in search of flashes of a certain intensity and frequency - signals emitted by the female of their species. As soon as the huge eyes catch the required light password, the male descends nearby, and the beetles, shining lights for each other, perform the sacrament of marriage. However, this idyllic picture can sometimes be disrupted in the most terrible way due to the fault of the females of some species belonging to the genus Photuris. These females emit signals that attract males of other species. And then they simply snack on them. This phenomenon is called aggressive mimicry.

A firefly is an insect that belongs to the order Coleoptera (or beetles), suborder heterophagous, family fireflies (lampyridae) (lat. Lampyridae).

Fireflies get their name because their eggs, larvae and adults are capable of glowing. The oldest written mention of fireflies is in a Japanese poetry collection from the late 8th century.

Firefly - description and photo. What does a firefly look like?

Fireflies are small insects ranging in size from 4 mm to 3 cm. Most of them have a flattened oblong body covered with hairs and a structure characteristic of all beetles, in which they stand out:

• 4 wings, the upper two of which have turned into elytra, having punctures and sometimes traces of ribs;

• movable head, decorated with large faceted eyes, completely or partially covered by the pronotum;

• filiform, comb or saw-shaped antennae, consisting of 11 segments;

• the oral apparatus is of a gnawing type (it is more often observed in larvae and females; in adult males it is reduced).

The males of many species, which resemble ordinary beetles, are very different from the females, which more closely resemble larvae or small worms with legs. Such representatives have a dark brown body on 3 pairs of short limbs, simple large eyes and no wings or elytra at all. Accordingly, they cannot fly. Their antennae are small, consisting of three segments, and their hard-to-see head is hidden behind the neck shield. The less developed the female, the more intensely she glows.

Fireflies are not brightly colored: representatives of brown color are more common, but their covers can also contain black and brown tones. These insects have relatively soft and flexible, moderately sclerotized body coverings. Unlike other beetles, the elytra of fireflies are very light, so the insects were previously classified as soft beetles (lat. Cantharidae), but then separated into a separate family.

Why do fireflies glow?

Most members of the firefly family are known for their ability to emit a phosphorescent glow, which is especially noticeable in the dark. In some species, only males can glow, in others, only females, in others, both (for example, Italian fireflies). Males emit a bright light in flight. Females are inactive and usually glow brightly on the soil surface. There are also fireflies that do not have this ability at all, while in many species the light comes even from the larvae and eggs.

By the way, few sushi animals even exhibit the phenomenon of bioluminescence (chemical glow). The larvae of fungus gnats, springtails (collembolas), fire flies, jumping spiders and representatives of beetles, for example, such as fire-bearing click beetles (pyrophorus) from the West Indies, are known to be capable of this. But if we count marine inhabitants, then there are at least 800 species of luminous animals on Earth.

The organs that allow fireflies to emit rays are photogenic cells (lanterns), abundantly intertwined with nerves and tracheas (air tubes). Externally, lanterns look like yellowish spots on the underside of the abdomen, covered with a transparent film (cuticle). They can be located on the last segments of the abdomen or evenly distributed throughout the body of the insect. Beneath these cells lie others filled with uric acid crystals and capable of reflecting light. Together, these cells work only if there is a nerve impulse from the insect’s brain. Oxygen enters the photogenic cell through the trachea and, with the help of the enzyme luciferase, which accelerates the reaction, oxidizes the compound of luciferin (light-emitting biological pigment) and ATP (adenosine triphosphoric acid). Thanks to this, the firefly glows, emitting light of blue, yellow, red or green.

Males and females of the same species most often emit rays of similar colors, but there are exceptions. The color of the glow depends on temperature and acidity (pH) environment, as well as on the structure of luciferase.

The beetles themselves regulate the glow; they can strengthen or weaken it, make it intermittent or continuous. Each species has its own unique phosphorus radiation system. Depending on the purpose, the glow of fireflies can be pulsating, flashing, stable, fading, bright or dim. The female of each species reacts only to the male’s signals with a certain frequency and intensity of light, that is, his mode. With a special rhythm of light emission, beetles not only attract partners, but also scare away predators and protect the boundaries of their territories. There are:

• search and calling signals in males;
• signals of consent, refusal and post-copulatory signals in females;
• signals of aggression, protest and even light mimicry.

Interestingly, fireflies spend about 98% of their energy emitting light, while an ordinary electric light bulb (incandescent lamp) converts only 4% of the energy into light, the rest of the energy is dissipated as heat.

Diurnal fireflies often do not need the ability to emit light, which is why they lack it. But those daytime representatives who live in caves or dark corners of the forest also turn on their “flashlights”. The eggs of all types of fireflies also emit light at first, but it soon fades away. During the day, the light of a firefly can be seen if you cover the insect with two palms or move it to a dark place.

By the way, fireflies also give signals using the direction of flight. For example, representatives of one species fly in a straight line, representatives of another species fly in a broken line.

Types of firefly light signals

V. F. Buck divided all light signals of fireflies into 4 types:

• Continuous glow

This is how adult beetles belonging to the genus Phengodes glow, as well as the eggs of all fireflies without exception. Neither external temperature nor lighting affects the brightness of the rays of this uncontrollable type of glow.

• Intermittent glow

Depending on factors external environment and the internal state of the insect, it can be weak or strong light. It may completely fade away for a while. This is how most larvae shine.

• Ripple

This type of luminescence, in which periods of light and absence of light are repeated at regular intervals, is characteristic of the tropical genera Luciola and Pteroptix.

• Flashes

There is no time dependence between the intervals of flashes and their absence with this type of glow. This type of signal is typical for most fireflies, especially in temperate latitudes. In a given climate, the ability of insects to emit light is highly dependent on environmental factors.

HA. Lloyd also identified a fifth type of glow:

• Flicker

This type of light signal is a series of short flashes (frequency from 5 to 30 Hz), appearing immediately one after another. It is found in all subfamilies, and its presence does not depend on the location and habitat.

Firefly communication systems

Lampyrids have 2 types of communication systems.

1. In the first system, an individual of one sex (usually a female) emits specific calling signals and attracts a representative of the opposite sex, for whom the presence of their own light organs is not mandatory. This type of communication is typical for fireflies of the genera Phengodes, Lampyris, Arachnocampa, Diplocadon, Dioptoma (Cantheroidae).
2. In the second type of system, individuals of the same sex (usually flying males) emit calling signals, to which flightless females give sex- and species-specific responses. This method of communication is characteristic of many species from the subfamilies Lampyrinae (genus Photinus) and Photurinae, living in North and South America.

This division is not absolute, since there are species with an intermediate type of communication and with a more advanced interactive luminescence system (in the European species Luciola italica and Luciola mingrelica).

Synchronized flashing of fireflies

In the tropics, many species of beetles from the family Lampyridae seem to shine together. They simultaneously light their “lanterns” and extinguish them at the same time. Scientists call this phenomenon the synchronous flashing of fireflies. The process of synchronous flashing of fireflies has not yet been fully studied, and there are several versions regarding how insects manage to shine at the same time. According to one of them, within a group of beetles of the same species there is a leader, and he serves as the conductor of this “chorus”. And since all representatives know the frequency (break time and glow time), they manage to do this very amicably. Mostly male lampyrids flash synchronously. Moreover, all researchers are inclined to believe that the synchronization of firefly signals is associated with the sexual behavior of insects. By increasing population density, their ability to find a mating partner increases. Scientists also noticed that the synchrony of insect light can be disrupted by hanging a lamp next to them. But with the cessation of its work, the process is restored.

The first mention of this phenomenon dates back to 1680 - this is a description made by E. Kaempfer after a trip to Bangkok. Subsequently, many statements were made about the observation of this phenomenon in Texas (USA), Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and the mountainous regions of New Guinea. Especially many of these types of fireflies live in Malaysia: this phenomenon occurs there local residents called "kelip-kelip". In the United States, in Elcomont National Park (Great Smoky Mountains), visitors watch the synchronous glow of representatives of the species Photinus carolinus.

Where do fireflies live?

Fireflies are fairly common, heat-loving insects that live in all parts of the world:

• in North and South America;
• in Africa;
• in Australia and New Zealand;
• in Europe (including the UK);
• in Asia (Malaysia, China, India, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines).

Most fireflies are found in the Northern Hemisphere. Many of them live in warm countries, that is, in tropical and subtropical regions of our planet. Some varieties are found in temperate latitudes. Russia is home to 20 species of fireflies, which can be found throughout the entire territory except the north: in the Far East, in the European part and in Siberia. They can be found in deciduous forests, swamps, near rivers and lakes, and in clearings.

Fireflies do not like to live in groups; they are loners, but they often form temporary clusters. Most fireflies are nocturnal animals, but there are also those that are active during daylight hours. During the day, insects rest on the grass, hide under bark, stones or in mud, and at night those that are able to fly do so smoothly and quickly. In cold weather they can often be seen on the surface of the ground.

What do fireflies eat?

Both larvae and adults are often predators, although there are fireflies that feed on the nectar and pollen of flowers, as well as decaying plants. Carnivorous bugs prey on other insects, cutworm caterpillars, mollusks, millipedes, earthworms, and even their fellow insects. Some females living in the tropics (for example, from the genus Photuris), after mating, imitate the rhythm of the glow of the males of another species in order to eat them and obtain nutrients for the development of their offspring.

Females in adulthood feed more often than males. Many males do not eat at all and die after several matings, although there is other evidence that all adults eat food.

The firefly larva has a retractable tassel on the last abdominal segment. It is needed in order to clean off the mucus remaining on its small head after eating slugs. All firefly larvae are active predators. They mainly eat shellfish and often live in their hard shells.

Reproduction of fireflies

Like all Coleoptera, fireflies develop with complete metamorphosis. The life cycle of these insects consists of 4 stages:

1. Egg (3-4 weeks),
2. Larva, or nymph (from 3 months to 1.5 years),
3. Pupa (1-2 weeks),
4. Imago, or adult (3-4 months).

Females and males mate on the ground or on low plants for 1-3 hours, after which the female lays up to 100 eggs in depressions in the soil, in garbage, on the lower surface of leaves or in moss. The eggs of common fireflies look like pearly yellow pebbles washed with water. Their shell is thin, and the “head” side of the eggs contains the embryo, which is visible through the transparent film.

After 3-4 weeks, the eggs hatch into terrestrial or aquatic larvae, which are voracious predators. The body of the larvae is dark, slightly flattened, with long running legs. In aquatic species, lateral abdominal gills are developed. The small elongated or square head of nymphs with three-segmented antennae is strongly retracted into the prothorax. There is 1 light eye on each side of the head. The strongly sclerotized mandibles (mandibles) of the larvae are shaped like a sickle, inside of which there is a sucking canal. Unlike adult insects, nymphs do not have an upper lip.

The larvae settle on the soil surface - under stones, in the forest floor, in mollusk shells. Nymphs of some firefly species pupate in the same fall, but mostly they survive the winter and only turn into pupae in the spring.

The larvae pupate in the soil or by hanging themselves on the bark of a tree, as they do. After 1-2 weeks, beetles crawl out of the pupae.

General life cycle fireflies lasts 1-2 years.

Types of fireflies, photos and names.

In total, entomologists count about 2,000 species of fireflies. Let's talk about the most famous of them.

• Common firefly ( aka large firefly) (lat. Lampyris noctiluca) has the popular names Ivanov worm or Ivanovsky worm. The appearance of the insect was associated with the holiday of Ivan Kupala, because it is with the arrival of summer that the mating season begins for fireflies. This is where the popular nickname came from, which was given to a female very similar to a worm.

The large firefly is a beetle with the characteristic appearance of fireflies. The size of males reaches 11-15 mm, females - 11-18 mm. The insect has a flat, villous body and all other characteristics of the family and order. The male and female of this species are very different from each other. The female looks like a larva and leads a sedentary, ground-based lifestyle. Both sexes have the ability to bioluminescence. But in the female this is much more pronounced; at dusk she emits a rather bright glow. The male flies well, but glows very faintly, almost imperceptibly to observers. Obviously, it is the female who gives the signal to her partner.

• - a common inhabitant of Japanese rice fields. Lives only in wet mud or directly in water. Hunts at night on mollusks, including intermediate hosts of fluke worms. When hunting, it shines very brightly, emitting a blue light.

• lives on the territory North America. Males of the genus Photinus glow only during takeoff and fly in a zigzag pattern, while females use mimetic illumination to eat males of other species. From representatives of this genus, American scientists isolate the enzyme luciferase to use it in biological practice. The common eastern firefly is the most common in North America.

This is a nocturnal beetle with a dark brown body 11-14 mm long. Thanks to the bright light, it is clearly visible on the soil surface. The females of this species look like worms. Fire photinus larvae live from 1 to 2 years and hide in damp places– next to streams, under bark and on the ground. They spend the winter buried in the ground.

Both adult insects and their larvae are predators, eating worms and snails.

• lives only in Canada and the USA. An adult beetle reaches a size of 2 cm. It has a flat black body, red eyes and yellow underwings. On the last segments of its abdomen there are photogenic cells.

The larva of this insect is nicknamed the “glow worm” for its ability to bioluminescence. The worm-like females of this species are also capable of light mimicry, imitating the signals of the firefly species Photinus in order to grab and eat their males.

• Cyphonocerus ruficollis- the most primitive and little-studied species of fireflies. It lives in North America and Eurasia. In Russia, the insect is found in Primorye, where females and males actively glow in August. The beetle is included in the Red Book of Russia.

• Red firefly (firefly pyrocoelia) (lat. Pyrocaelia rufa) is a rare and little-studied species that lives in the Russian Far East. Its length can reach 15 mm. It is called the red firefly because its scutellum and rounded pronotum have an orange tint. The beetle's elytra are dark brown, the antennae are saw-toothed and small.

The larval stage of this insect lasts 2 years. You can find the larva in the grass, under stones or on the forest floor. Adult males fly and glow.

• - a small black beetle with an orange head and saw-shaped antennae (antennae). The females of this species fly and glow, but the males lose the ability to emit light after turning into an adult insect.

Fir fireflies live in the forests of North America.

• - inhabitant of the center of Europe. The male beetle has clear transparent spots on the pronotum, and the rest of its body is light brown. The body length of the insect varies from 10 to 15 mm.

Males glow especially brightly in flight. Females are worm-like and are also capable of emitting bright light. The organs of light production are located in Central European worms not only at the end of the abdomen, but also in the second segment of the chest. The larvae of this species can also glow. They have a black fuzzy body with yellow-pink dots on the sides.

Bioluminescence is one of the most beautiful phenomena of nature! We present a selection of creatures that can glow in the dark.

‎1. Plankton

Breathtaking a natural phenomenon, which takes place in many parts of the globe, receives the greatest tourist attention in the Maldives. Bioluminescent phytoplankton, picked up by the oncoming waves, illuminates the ocean waters with a bright blue glow. The tide regularly brings a scattering of lights to the shore, turning it into a landscape from a fairy tale.

‎2. Diplopods (subspecies of millipedes)‎

Eight out of twenty thousand species of centipedes have the ability to glow at night. A greenish-blue glow emanates from even the most ordinary brown specimens. This feature in this case does not have the function of attracting prey, because millipedes are herbivores. The glow serves as a signal of toxicity to scare off predators, because the pores of these animals can secrete cyanide.

‎3. Cave fireflies

The larvae of some species of mosquitoes and midges have the property of glowing, for which they were classified as fireflies. Particularly interesting are the so-called cave fireflies, which live in New Zealand, in a magical place called Waitomo. These insects use the glow of their bodies for two purposes: for predators it is a signal of poisonousness, and for potential victims it is an excellent bait: prey attracted by the light is captured by silky threads hanging in the vaults of the cave.

‎4. Snails ‎

When a Clusterwink snail senses that it is in danger, it withdraws its body into its shell and it begins to glow bright green from the inside, creating the illusion of increasing in size. As a rule, the enemy, struck by such a metamorphosis, retreats.‎

‎5. Ctenophores

These jelly-like creatures get their name because of the eight ridge-like plates on their bodies that help them move through the water. Some species of ctenophores glow bright green or blue in the dark, while others simply scatter light as their combs move, creating a brilliant, iridescent (but not bioluminescent in nature) effect.

‎6. Fireflies

A special organ located at the bottom of the firefly's abdomen, glowing, signals that the insect is looking for a mate. However, in addition to this, the glow hints to potential predators about the harmless nature of these charming bugs, which makes them unsuitable for food. Even firefly larvae have the ability to produce a recognizable yellow glow.‎

‎7. Clems or Veneres ‎

This type of marine mollusk, the average size of which reaches 18 cm, amazes observers with its blue glow, but it appears only under certain circumstances. ‎The first evidence of unusual feature Clemov was left by the Roman statesman Pliny. He noted a change in the color of the air from his breath after eating raw shellfish. Recent studies have shown that the presence of free radicals makes Clemov glow. Such a discovery could provide science with new ways to ‎diagnose cancer in its early stages.‎

‎8. Angler fish

The dorsal fin of the female anglerfish is located directly above the mouth. This organ is shaped like a fishing rod with a glowing end that attracts prey. When the prey, interested in the light, swims close enough, the predator suddenly grabs it and tears it into pieces with its powerful jaws.

‎9. Cockroaches

Two luminous points on the back of one type of cockroach serve as a disguise for the appearance of a poisonous click beetle. This is the only organism known to science that uses bioluminescence for the purpose of protective mimicry. Unfortunately, it is possible that this recently discovered creature has already completely disappeared from the globe as a result of the volcanic eruption in Ecuador in 2010. ‎

‎10. Mushrooms

There are about 70 species of glowing mushrooms worldwide, distributed in many different places. For many species, the ability to glow helps them reproduce: beetles attracted by the glow and landing on the surface of the mushroom become carriers of its spores.‎

‎11. Squid

Many squids use what is called counterillumination. This means that they begin to glow according to the intensity of the light coming from above. This behavior provides them with protection from attacks by predators, who find it difficult to distinguish a prey that has “lost” its shadow.‎

‎12. Corals

In fact, most corals are not bioluminescent, but biofluorescent. The first concept expresses the body's ability to produce its own light, while the second represents the accumulation of light from external sources and its reflection with a changed hue. For example, some corals, after absorbing blue and violet rays, begin to glow bright red, orange or green.

‎13. Octopuses

Tiny deep-sea octopuses owe their glow to special photophore organs located on their bodies - modified suckers. Thanks to them, the tentacles are covered with flickering or continuously shining lights.‎

‎14. Sea stars

In truth, a creature called Ophiochiton ternispinus is not a starfish, but nevertheless this species is very close to them. Just like their “star” relatives, they have five limbs, which are particularly thin and highly flexible. These animals emit a bright blue color that helps them hunt in their dark habitat. ‎

‎15. Sea anemones

Sea anemones, along with their relatives who are not prone to bioluminescence, most They spend their lives floating freely until they find the optimal place for final anchorage. Their glowing tentacles sting predators and prey with sharp ‎‎harpoons.‎

‎16. Glowing anchovies

Another deep-sea owner of photophore organs is the luminous anchovy. The bright spots of this fish are located mainly on the belly, but the most spectacular lights are on the forehead, which creates the impression of a headlight on the head.

‎17. Bacteria

Insects often become prey to a type of bacteria that emits bright light. Individuals of this species release toxins that destroy the victim’s body from the inside.‎

‎18. Krill

Arctic waters are densely populated by small crustaceans called krill. These creatures use the bright glow of their tiny bodies as beacons for individuals of their species. Swimming towards each other and flocking together, they better withstand difficult conditions and attacks from predators.

‎19. Largemouths

The deep-sea largemouth fish, also called the pelican eel, lives on the seabed where it hunts for prey that is sometimes larger than itself own size. The massive mouth of this inhabitant of the depths allows you to swallow arbitrarily large volumes of food. The light organ, located on the long tail, attracts prey wandering in the darkness with its flickering.‎

‎20. Sea worms

A rare creature called Swima bombaviridis has no less unique method self-defense. There are eight bags with a special liquid on his body. At the moment of danger, they are emptied and the spilled liquid illuminates the area around with a bright blue or green glow, distracting the predator and allowing the sea worm to hide.

Fireflies - living lanterns

Beautiful and mysterious fireflies can not only delight our eyes. These creatures are capable of more serious matters.

In summer twilight, at the edge of the forest, along a country road or in a meadow, you can see, if you’re lucky, a “living star” in the tall, wet grass. When you come closer to take a good look at the mysterious “light bulb”, you will most likely be disappointed to find a soft worm-like body with a luminous end of a jointed abdomen on the stem.

Hmmm... The spectacle is not at all romantic. It is perhaps best to admire the firefly from a distance. But what is this creature that irresistibly attracts us with its cool greenish glow?

FIRE PASSIONS

The common firefly - and it is the one that attracts our attention in most of the territory of European Russia - is a beetle from the lampyrid family. Unfortunately, its name is clearly outdated today - in summer cottages near large cities, the “living lantern” has long become a rarity.

In the old days in Rus' this insect was known as Ivanov (or Ivanovo) worm. A bug that looks like a worm? Could this be possible? Maybe. After all, our hero is a creature in some sense underdeveloped. The greenish “bulb” is a wingless, larval-like female. At the end of her unprotected abdomen there is a special luminous organ, with the help of which the bug calls for a male.

“I’m here, and I haven’t mated with anyone yet,” is what her light signal means. The one to whom this “sign of love” is addressed looks like an ordinary beetle. With head, wings, legs. He is not satisfied with the illumination - it is of no use to him. His task is to find a free female and mate with her to procreate.

Perhaps our distant ancestors intuitively felt that the mysterious light of insects contained a love call. It was not for nothing that they associated the name of the beetle with Ivan Kupala - the ancient pagan holiday of the summer solstice.

It is celebrated on June 24 according to the old style (July 7 according to the new style). It is during this period of the year that it is easiest to find a firefly. Well, if it sits on a fern leaf, then from afar it can pass for that same wonderful flower that blooms on a fabulous Kupala night.

As already mentioned, the fireweed is a representative of the family of luminous lampyrid beetles, numbering about two thousand species. True, most insects that emit radiance prefer the tropics and subtropics. You can admire these exotic creatures without leaving Russia in Primorye on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus.

If you have ever walked along the Sochi or Adler embankments and alleys on a warm evening, you could not help but notice the small yellowish tracer lights filling the summer twilight of the “Russian Riviera”. The “designer” of this impressive illumination is the Luciola mingrelica beetle, with both females and males contributing to the resort’s lighting design.

Unlike the unblinking glow of our northern firefly, the sexual signaling system of southerners is akin to Morse code. Cavaliers fly low above the ground and continuously emit search signals - flashes of light - at regular intervals. If the groom happens to be close to his betrothed sitting on the leaves of a bush, she responds to him with her characteristic outburst. Noticing this “sign of love”, the male abruptly changes his flight course, approaches the female and begins to send courtship signals - shorter and more frequent flashes.

In countries South-East Asia fireflies live that are able to coordinate the submission of their “love calls” with the signals of nearby comrades. As a result, a striking picture emerges: thousands of tiny living light bulbs begin to flash and go out synchronously in the air and in the treetops. It seems that an invisible conductor controls this magical light and music.

Such an enchanting spectacle has long attracted many enthusiastic fans in Japan. Every year in June-July, in different cities of the Land of the Rising Sun, Hotaru Matsuri- Festival of fireflies.

Usually, in warm weather, before the start of the mass flight of luminous beetles, people gather at dusk in the garden near some Buddhist or Shinto shrine. As a rule, the “bug festival” is timed to coincide with the new moon - so that the “extraneous” light does not distract the audience from the fairy-tale show of living lights. Many Japanese believe that winged lanterns are the souls of their deceased ancestors.

Still from the anime "Grave of the Fireflies"

TRUSTING HARMONY IN ALGEBRA...

There are no words, stars glowing underfoot, in the treetops or loitering almost overhead in the warm night air. - the spectacle is truly magical. But this definition, far from science, cannot satisfy a scientist who seeks to understand the physical nature of any phenomenon in the surrounding world.

To reveal the secret of “His Excellency” the lampirid beetle - this was the goal set by the 19th century French physiologist Raphael Dubois. To solve this problem, he separated the luminous organs from the abdomen of insects and ground them in a mortar, turning them into a luminous homogeneous pulp, then added a little cold water. The “flashlight” shone in the mortar for a few more minutes, after which it went out.

When the scientist added boiling water to the gruel prepared in the same way, the fire went out instantly. One day, a researcher combined the contents of a “cold” and “hot” mortar for testing. To his amazement, the glow resumed! Dubois could only explain such an unexpected effect from a chemical point of view.

After racking his brains, the physiologist came to the conclusion: the “living light bulb” is “turned on” by two different chemicals. The scientist named them luciferin and luciferase. In this case, the second substance somehow activates the first, causing it to glow.

In the “cold” mortar the glow stopped because luciferin ran out, and in the “hot” mortar - because under the influence high temperature luciferase is destroyed. When the contents of both mortars were combined, luciferin and luciferase met again and “shine.”

Further research confirmed the correctness of the French physiologist. Moreover, chemicals such as luciferin and luciferase were found to be present in the luminous organs of all known species of lampyrid beetles living in different countries and even on different continents.

Having unraveled the phenomenon of the glow of insects, scientists eventually penetrated into another secret of the “radiant persons”. How is the synchronous light music that we described above created? By studying the light organs of “fire” insects, researchers found that nerve fibers connect them with the eyes of fireflies.

The operation of the “living light bulb” directly depends on the signals that the insect’s visual analyzer receives and processes; the latter, in turn, sends commands to the light organ. Of course, one beetle cannot survey the crown of a large tree or the expanse of a clearing. He sees flashes of his relatives who are near him, and acts in unison with them.

They focus on their neighbors and so on. A kind of “agent network” arises, in which each small signalman is in his place and transmits light information along the chain, without knowing how many individuals are involved in the system.

WITH “HIS LORDSHIP” THROUGH THE JUNGLE

Of course, people value fireflies primarily for their beauty, mystery and romance. But in Japan, for example, in the old days these insects were collected in special wicker vessels. Nobles and rich geishas used them as elegant night lights, and “living lanterns” helped poor students cram at night. By the way, 38 beetles provide as much light as an average sized wax candle.

“Stars on legs” like lighting fixtures have long been used by the indigenous people of Central and South America to ritually decorate their homes and themselves on holidays. The first European settlers in Brazil filled lamps near Catholic icons with beetles instead of oil. “Living lanterns” provided a particularly valuable service to those traveling through the Amazon jungle.

To protect the safety of nighttime movement through the tropical forest infested with snakes and other poisonous creatures, the Indians tied fireflies to their legs. Thanks to this “illumination,” the risk of accidentally stepping on a dangerous jungle inhabitant was significantly reduced.

To a modern extreme sports enthusiast, even the Amazonian thicket may seem like a well-trodden place. Today, the only area where tourism is only taking its first steps is space. But it turns out that fireflies are able to make a worthy contribution to its development.

IS THERE LIFE ON MARS? THE FIREFLY WILL TELL

Let us recall once again Raphael Dubois, through whose efforts the world in the 19th century learned about luciferin and luciferase - two chemical substances that cause “living” radiance. In the first half of the last century, his discovery was significantly expanded.

It turned out that for the “bug light bulb” to work properly, a third component is needed, namely adenosine triphosphoric acid, or ATP for short. This important biological molecule was discovered in 1929, so the French physiologist did not even suspect its participation in his experiments.

In the movie "Avatar" not only insects and animals glow in the dark, but also plants

ATP is a kind of “portable battery” in a living cell, whose task is to provide energy for all reactions of biochemical synthesis. Including the interaction between luciferin and luciferase - after all, light emission also requires energy. First, thanks to adenosine triphosphoric acid, luciferin transforms into a special “energy” form, and then luciferase turns on a reaction, as a result of which its “extra” energy is converted into a quantum of light.

Oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide and calcium also participate in the luminescence reactions of lampyrid beetles. That’s how difficult everything is in “living light bulbs”! But they have amazingly high efficiency. As a result of the conversion of chemical energy ATP into light, only two percent is lost as heat, while a light bulb wastes 96 percent of its energy.

All this is good, you say, but what does space have to do with it? But here's what it has to do with it. Only living organisms “can make” the mentioned acid, but absolutely everything - from viruses and bacteria to humans. Luciferin and luciferase are capable of glowing in the presence of ATP, which is synthesized by any living organism, not necessarily a firefly.

At the same time, these two substances discovered by Dubois, artificially deprived of their constant companion, will not give a “light”. But if all three participants in the reaction come together again, the glow may resume.

It was on this idea that the project was based, which was developed at the American Aerospace Agency (NASA) in the 60s of the last century. It was supposed to supply automatic space laboratories designed to study the surface of planets solar system, special containers containing luciferin and luciferase. At the same time, they had to be completely cleared of ATP.

Having taken a soil sample on another planet, it was necessary, without wasting time, to combine a small amount of “cosmic” soil with terrestrial luminescence substrates. If on the surface celestial body If at least microorganisms live, then their ATP will come into contact with luciferin, “charge” it, and then luciferase will “turn on” the luminescence reaction.

The received light signal is transmitted to Earth, and there people will immediately understand that there is life! Well, the absence of glow, alas, will mean that this island in the Universe is most likely lifeless. So far, apparently, no greenish “living light” has blinked at us from any planet in the solar system. But - research continues!

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