Essay About Fireflies

Firefly is a beetle that can produce light. The family name for the firefly is Lampyridae. There are more than 2000 species of Lampyridae. It can be found in the tropics, except desert and mountain areas. The firefly is dark brown when viewed from the outside. However, fireflies which produce light only be found in East India and Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. In the area of Kuala Selangor, fireflies can be found in two areas which names are Kampung Kuantan and Bukit Mertajam. The similarities between these areas are, both located near the Sungai Selangor. Fireflies’ life expectancy here is approximately is for 2 to 3 months. Firefly species were found in Kuala Selangor is of the species Pteroptyx Tener. Typically, it is found in great numbers and reach the thousands.

2.4.1 Life Cycle

Firefly often rested on 'Barembang ' trees which abound on the banks of Sungai

After mating, the female firefly will lay eggs in mossy and muddy ground. In the egg, it takes between 15-20 days before it turns into a larva. The advantage of firefly larvae is can survive on the soil or water. Larva of firefly has toxic mandibles which become a defense and tools to help find it food (prey). Toxic fluids which produce by firefly larva will kill the victim and making them semi-liquid. The main food source for the firefly larva is a small snail, Cyclotropis carinata. This snail is less than 1 centimeter in size and it can be found under the nypa or decaying thatch. Within 2 or 3 months, the larvae will turn into a pupa. After 9-12 days, the pupa will turn into adult fireflies. The duration of the entire process life cycle for firefly is between 6-7 months, while the period of adult life flashes approximately 2-3 months. The adult fireflies suck the liquid nectar produced from berembang trees as a source of