{"id":11997,"date":"2022-09-27T01:57:03","date_gmt":"2022-09-27T06:57:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=11997"},"modified":"2023-05-05T01:41:39","modified_gmt":"2023-05-05T06:41:39","slug":"why-do-fireflies-die-so-soon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/why-do-fireflies-die-so-soon\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do Fireflies Die So Soon?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the 1988 anime film Grave of the Fireflies<\/em>, a little girl named Setsuko buries a bunch of the little dead insects. With tears in her eyes, she asks her older brother, \u201cWhy do fireflies have to die so soon?\u201d The question is haunting in the context of the movie, which details the tragic plight of a pair of Japanese orphans in the wake of World War II. But the same question can be asked in a biological sense: why do <\/em>fireflies die so soon? What is their life cycle, and how much of their lives do they spend in the flashy, flying adult stage? Read on to find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Firefly\u2019s Life Cycle?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"What<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fireflies begin their lives as eggs, which are laid in mid to late summer<\/a>. Some firefly species lay these eggs on plant leaves, though most deposit them directly in the soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some firefly eggs are bioluminescent, meaning they produce a faint glow. That said, they are usually buried under the soil, so few people ever see these glowing eggs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firefly eggs hatch after about three to four weeks. The larvae, often called glow worms, typically live in the soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glow worms live throughout the late summer, fall, and winter months. Some will continue to live as larvae through the following year, surviving two winters as larvae before maturing the following spring.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In spring, the glow worms enter the pupal stage. Most pupate in the ground, though some climb onto trees and pupate upside down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While in their pupas, the glow worms gradually morph into adult fireflies. The process can take anywhere from ten days up to several weeks, depending on the species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, in late spring or early summer, the adult fireflies make their appearance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out this video to learn more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NpBkZ-MNw7I<\/a>