Fireflies and Bioluminescence

One of the joys of the summer season is the sighting of fireflies, sometimes called “lightning bugs.” This post was inspired by our recent first sighting of fireflies outside our Eastern Iowa home. The firefly phenomenon holds many pleasant memories. “Lightning in a bottle” could refer to capturing these amazing creatures in a jar for young children as long as we adhere to the principle of catch and release.

The light organ producing the visible light from a firefly is called the lantern. The visible light glows from the translucent exoskeleton of the insect at the rear of the abdomen. Light generating cells in the lantern contain the enzyme luciferin. Another enzyme, luciferase, acts as a catalyst on luciferin to generate an “excited” chemical state when  oxygen is supplied. Oxygen is the element necessary for oxidation, defined as the loss of one or more electrons (charged electrical particles).

Sometimes oxidation results in combustion—rapid burning. At other times oxidation is slow. In firefly bioluminescence the oxidation is a slow process. Firefly bioluminescence is exothermic: Energy is released, but the energy is in the form of light—not heat.  The light generated by lightning bugs is termed “cold light.”

Our research affirmed the complex subject of taxonomy whereby bioscientists describe and categorize living animals according to characteristics distinguishing them from all other living animals. Taxonomists developed a hierarchical system beginning with major categories of animals and expanded the system to describe more specific and detailed information highlighting the wondrous diversity among living creatures. This hierarchy proceeds from about 35 major phyla to several million named species according to the traditional hierarchy. Fireflies are beetles. Surprisingly, about 25% of all recognized species on Earth are beetles. They are included among insects which represent 80% of recognized animal species on Planet Earth.   

There are about 2 million different animal species classified so far on Earth. Millions more have yet to be formally classified. Bioluminescent fireflies exemplify the remarkable diversity of characteristics among Earth’s living species.

 

Bioluminescence is merely one of the astonishing characteristics of a small percentage  of living things on our planet. When we search, examine, and analyze this evidence and the characteristics of Planet Earth creatures, we perceive that God, the Creator of All Things had almost limitless ideas about what sorts of physical traits, behaviors, and operating systems He would create. Translation: God did not stop creating with only one species of fireflies. He created 2000 species of fireflies!

We conclude this post with a few more facts related to fireflies. Some species are diminishing in number because of habitat loss, pesticides, and light pollution. Fireflies use their bioluminescence to attract mates. They prefer almost complete darkness to demonstrate their light production ability. Three states have selected fireflies as their state insect—Indiana, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania.  Worldwide, there are roughly 2000 species in the family of lympyridae (fireflies). Most of these species are bioluminescent.

We link a past post: to expand upon our discussion of “taxonomy:”

https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2018/10/insect-profusion.html

Here is a link to our past post concerning our “sense of wonder:”

https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2007/11/sense-of-wonder.html

Finally, a link to our post on the “Science Wow Factor” as we marvel at one insect’s bioluminescence:

https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2008/07/wow-factor.html

 

 

        

  

  

 

Texas Tragedy

 This post is dedicated to the memory of several hundred lives lost in the Texas flash flood over the July 4, 2025 weekend. We submit to the omniscient Creator of All Things, confessing our weakness, frailty, and lack of ability to explain tragic events beyond our control. We read in scripture a detailed account of the righteous Old Testament figure Job who experienced incomprehensible fatal tragedies relating to his large family. Job 1:22 states, “In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.”

After searching through our blog archive, we uncovered a past post that deals in much greater depth with the issues raised in the above paragraph. We link it here:

https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-we-dont-know.html

The subject of this post is appropriate with respect to our inability to comprehend such a horrific disaster. As of this writing, about 300 people have perished or are missing. Several dozen were young children at Camp Mystic, inundated along the Guadalupe River in an area known as “flash flood alley.” We cite several excerpts from the above linked post:

“The Book of Job deals with natural tragedies—what they mean, why they occur, and perhaps broader questions of why discomfort, grief, tragedy, and sin could even exist at all.

“Job confessed he did not understand many of the wonders described and could not answer the questions posed.

“These (tragic) events were permitted by the Lord. If God, the Creator, is in sovereign control of our universe, we must acknowledge that any event is under his purview. 

“Earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, and floods have occurred….. along with the far more common tranquil events. The latter outnumber the violent, tragic events by orders of magnitude…..The events of Job 1-2 could now be said to have led to fulfilling God’s higher purpose. We may speculate on what that higher purpose was, but we may never understand it from a human standpoint. Job was not vindicated by his righteousness, but by his recognition of God’s sovereignty. God triumphs over Satan. God triumphs over evil. At the end of time, the triumph is not only in the hearts of believers, but also in an ultimate sense as outlined in the Book of Revelation 21-22.”

The Old Testament Book of Job is a favorite for many Christians. It has many science and faith commentaries and insights. In its final chapter, the author confesses and repents: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:1-6 NIV).

The Texas tragedy reminds us that our Sovereign God’s ways are not our ways. We may say that a “just” God should do this, or shouldn’t do that. Old Testament prophet Isaiah states, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord” (Isa. 55:8).