Rob The Badger
18 Apr 2004, 20:20
With the use of a simple pen light, the powers of your own observation, and your own ability to count. You can quite effectively call fireflies to land right in your own hand.
Fire flies time their flashes in set intervals (this varies by species). The male will flash, and interested females will return his flash. He will then navigate his way to them by virtue of the provided beacon. In the case of American fireflies, or "lightning bugs", if you are fortunate enough to live in an area that has these fun to watch critters, the magic flash interval the male is waiting for is approximately one second long. Simply wait for a lone flash, count "one, one thousand", to yourself, and do a quick button push on the penlight held in your hand. You should shortly see another flash a little closer to you than the last. Repeat the procedure. Soon you will have a somewhat confused male firefly arrive, who having alit on your hand is wondering where the babes are.
Fire flies time their flashes in set intervals (this varies by species). The male will flash, and interested females will return his flash. He will then navigate his way to them by virtue of the provided beacon. In the case of American fireflies, or "lightning bugs", if you are fortunate enough to live in an area that has these fun to watch critters, the magic flash interval the male is waiting for is approximately one second long. Simply wait for a lone flash, count "one, one thousand", to yourself, and do a quick button push on the penlight held in your hand. You should shortly see another flash a little closer to you than the last. Repeat the procedure. Soon you will have a somewhat confused male firefly arrive, who having alit on your hand is wondering where the babes are.