Lightning bugs

They’re called “fireflies” in some parts, and I’m fortunate to have tons of them where I live. It’s quite the sight every night as they light up the whole neighborhood. They’re taken for granted, unfortunately. Anyway, I just now happened to graze one with my windshield while driving. It left a little glowing streak. I’m just wondering if there’s any chance it survived. I’d feel bad if it died. Anyone know?

When we were (sadistic) little kids, we used to catch them, throw them onto the sidewalk, and smash them by sliding our foot over them, creating a neat glowing streak.

I’m pretty sure you killed it. Get over it.

If it left a glowing streak, that means it must have ruptured its exoskeleton in order for the luminescent material inside to have leaked out. It will probably die of dehydration through the wound, if it was not killed instantly.

Sorry, but that’s just a bug’s life.

[Moderating]

Again, panache45, this kind of post serves little purpose in GQ (especially telling another poster to “Get over it”). Let’s try to provide more informative posts, especially if you’re the first to respond to a thread.

Colibri
General Questions Moderator

You can be assured the bug is a streak on the window. The chemical for light is stored in the abdominal area and creates light when oxygenated. There is no other way for the glowing stuff to get on the window.

An adult firefly only lives a couple weeks anyway. Like many insects, most of its lifetime is spent as a larva, entering an adult stage only to mate and die. I don’t know if adult fireflies feed. Quite possibly not.

At least some do. I’ve heard of a species of firefly which mimics the mating signals of other firefly species in the same area, to lure them in as prey.

You think that’s bad. This summer I swatted what I assumed was a cockroach in the kitchen & then saw a bioluminescent streak. Lightning bugs had come in through an open window on the other end of the house & made it to the kitchen. I’d swatted a pair of them in mid-coitus. :eek:

I’ve heard of “afterglow” but that’s a little harsh. :stuck_out_tongue: