By KAREN MADORIN
A hip-jutting, bold-shouldered posture made famous by actor James Dean, a flick of a hand through hair, extended eye contact, and a lingering second glance signals human interest in romance. Researchers have written entire books about body language people use when they want to hook up. Not surprisingly, other species’ signals read just as obviously.
In this region, we watch the spring strut where male turkeys fan tails and rattle feathers to attract hens. In more remote locales, we might spy male prairie chickens dancing and booming to catch the eye and ear of their ladylove. We laugh at rabbits coyly hopping over and around one another when they seek a mate. Sitting outside on a summer eve, we hear nearby frogs trilling and croaking love songs to woo female amphibians.
On warm June and July nights, love is everywhere, even, I learned, among fireflies flitting about my backyard. Years ago, I discovered these insects’ blinkers flash in search of romance. These enthralling light--then dark--then light beacons have everything to do with reproduction and nothing to do with my delight in their strobe effect. Focused research helped me understand how fireflies control their lights.
Scientists explain that this insect’s ability to glow involves the chemical nitric oxide, which coincidentally helps control human heartbeats and memories. It’s interesting that a chemical that brightens a summer night also has something to do with maintaining brain cells that replay recollections of times past. Humans may not glow and flash as fireflies do, but the elemental bond they share with this charming insect plays a critical role in both creatures’ well-being, though for entirely different purposes.
It also intrigued me to learn that the two hundred species of fireflies each have unique signals that differentiate them from other varieties of the species. Their specifically designed flashes attract appropriate mates. This is critical, considering the short span nature offers them to find partners. Those fleeting flickers are nature’s way to guarantee a favorite summertime insect continues to exist.
In addition to discovering fireflies use blinking backsides to seek love, I also learned they spend two years in a larval state. In sharp contrast to this long incubation, they exist for two weeks in their beetle/firefly stage. During this brief 14-day period, they mate and lay eggs, according to a Tufts University study.
Two weeks is not much time to find a partner and start a family. Learning this makes me feel guilty for the years I collected fireflies in glass jars to admire in a dark bedroom and for the summers I encouraged our daughters to also enjoy this childhood ritual. Though we released our insects the following morning, we reduced their opportunities to produce offspring.
This information created a new resolve at this house. Those glowing bugs can have their whole beetle stage to find love and produce more blinking nighttime wonders. I won’t interfere in their romances. However, knowing such facts makes me blush to think I’m invading their privacy when I watch their summer light shows.
Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.