bugsrfckdup - Tumblr blog

[bugsrfckdup]

Bumblebee/humla on a flowering currant/rosenrips. Värmland, Sweden (April 20, 2020).

[bugsrfckdup]

try it i fucking dare you

[bugsrfckdup]

A Night Out with the Eastern Firefly

The eastern firefly, or North American firefly (Photinus pyralis), is a popular sight throughout the United States and southern Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. They are commonly associated with the beginning of summer, as they spend the winter hibernating underground and emerge only when the weather begins to warm. They are commonly seen in deciduous forests, grasslands, gardens, and backyards.

Contrary to their name, the eastern firefly is actually a type of beetle with well-developed wings. Adults are quite small, only 10-14 mm (0.39-0.55 in) long. They have a yellow and red head and a dark brown body with a narrow yellow stripe marking the outline of the wing casings. The main difference between the two sexes is the length of their wings; males have longer wings and are capable of flight, while females have shorter, less functional wings. Both sexes have a special organ on the end of their abdomens that produce light; however, the female's light tends to be weaker. The North American firefly produces its light by combining oxygen with a chemical called luciferin; the resulting chemical reaction gives off a glow which is amplified by special reflective cells in the firefly's abdomen.

Like all fireflies, P. pyralis uses its light producing ability to attract a mate. Males flash only while flying, in bursts about 6 seconds apart. Once a female signals her interest-- also by flashing-- the male lands near her and offers her a package called a spermatophore made of sperm, protein, and nutrients. If the female accepts, she inseminates herself and buries the rest of the package with her clutch of about 500 eggs. These eggs, which glow slightly during development, hatch about 4 weeks after being laid, and the larvae feed on the remains of the nutrient-rich spermatophore. The larvae can take one or two years to develop, and spend most of their time underground or near sources of fresh water like lakes and streams. Once the larva pupates and develops into an adult firefly, they only live in this stage for about a month before dying.

Both larva and adult eastern fireflies are predators, feeding on other insects like worms, snails, and other fireflies. However, larva spend almost all their time hunting for food, while adults spend the majority of their time seeking out a mate. To avoid predation, P. pyralis can emit foul-smelling odors and excretion of sticky substances; they also emit a chemical called lucibufagin that repells spiders. However, other species of fireflies will actually mimic the light patterns of the eastern firefly in order to predate upon them.

Conservation status: The North American firefly is currently considered Least Concern by the IUCN. However, they are threatened by light pollution, pesticides, and habitat loss.

Photos

Judy Gallagher

Katja Shultz

Sydney Penner via iNaturalist

[bugsrfckdup]

[bugsrfckdup]

Broad-nosed weevil, Exophthalmus sp.?, Entiminae

Photographed in Colombia by Judy Gallagher

[bugsrfckdup]

Purple stick insect (adult female), Orthonecroscia keatsooni, Lonchodidae

Photographed in Malaysia by Nicky Bay // Website // Facebook

Shared with permission; do not remove credit or re-post!

[bugsrfckdup]

Somewhere over the rainbow 🌈 🌧️

[bugsrfckdup]

Female mantis (Cardioptera sp.) laying an ootheca (egg case)

Photographed in Ecuador by Andreas Kay

[bugsrfckdup]

I’m quite fond of scarlet and turquoise together, and Edessa rufomarginata displays them both in the form of a gorgeous stinkbug!

seen in Costa Rica, alongside an equally beautiful juvenile of the same species. they are quite common in this habitat but no less pretty for it!

[bugsrfckdup]

Oleander Hawk Moth (Daphnis nerii), family Sphingidae, Taiwan

photographs by Gracy Kam

[bugsrfckdup]

what kind of creature could create such tracks 🤔 ?

[bugsrfckdup]

Frog-legged Beetle (Sagra buqueti), family Chrysomelidae, SE Asia

photograph by @tania0378

[bugsrfckdup]

cutest ever baby house centipede i found at work

[bugsrfckdup]

[bugsrfckdup]

Have you seen how big crane fly larvae are??? Wow

They can be quite large, yeah! Here's a large crane fly larva (Tipulidae):

More importantly though some of them have little "faces." Here's a tiger crane fly larva:

Lol. That's actually his butt I think.

Photos by lumenal and marcello

[bugsrfckdup]

kind of wishing I could form a chrysalis rn and dissolve into an amorphous liquid for a while and then reform into a more beautiful thing rn

[bugsrfckdup]

An opal beetle! 🌈