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BrokenShell121 — Mating Fireflies

#fireflies #firefly #glowworm #insects #lowlight #glühwürmchen #leuchtkäfer #johanniswürmchen #lamprohiza #lamprohizasplendidula #kleinerleuchtkäfer #insectphotography #macro
Published: 2017-06-26 15:35:34 +0000 UTC; Views: 908; Favourites: 55; Downloads: 0
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Description Mating fireflies - I guess that's what you call "getting laid"! Before you accuse me of disturbing them in their most intimate moment (the male is in fact at the brink of death, giving its last energy and then dying); I found them last evening on our basement steps. I first did not realize that it was two mating fireflies, and just wanted to secure it. I was curious though which species and hence took this photo... Then I saw there was another little bug on top. The males of Lamprohiza splendidula are much smaller and dark as opposed to the larger females, which are nearly translucent. In addition I learnt, only the males are able to fly and finally only the males of this species are also emitting light. In other words, if you see glowing fireflies dancing around the air at dusk, it is the males of Lamprohiza splendidula (at least where I live). In German they are also called Johanniswürmchen, since they typically occur around the Eve of St. John, which is when males search for females to mate with... So anyway, I relocated the pair to a nearby flower bed. Hoping for a new and larger generation of fireflies to frequent our garden soon!
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Comments: 1

FddyWnks [2020-04-12 16:12:52 +0000 UTC]

Great capture

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