Fireflies in the Night

FIREFLIES IN THE NIGHT

I like fireflies. When I visit my grandfather in thesummertime, we sit outdoors after supper and watch them. Grandmother likes to watch fireflies too. She calls themlightning bugs. They look like little dancing stars. They arereally beetles, Grandfather says.

All beetles have two sets of wings and so do fireflies. When they rest, they fold their hard front wings on top oftheir soft back wings. Young fireflies do not have wings at all. For their firstyear or two they live in the ground, just like young beetles. When their wings grow, they live above ground in trees orbushes.

Grandfather gave me a glass jar to use on firefly hunts. We punched holes in the lid. Fireflies are easy to catch. Soon my jar is lighted up like alantern.

After every firefly hunt, Grandfather has somethingnew to tell me. One time he showed me how to make myfirefly lantern brighter. (He promised it would not hurt myfireflies. ) Just hold the jar upright in a bowl of warm water. He knew it would work because fireflies always shinebrighter in warm weather. If you dip the jar in cold water, the firefly lights will fade.

People in hot countries make good use of firefly light. Inthe Caribbean, and in some parts of South America, peoplesometimes wear net bags full of fireflies tied to their wristsor ankles. These homemade flashlights help them find theirway along the dark jungle paths.