why do lightening bugs glow at night?

Answer 1

The short answer to your question is: chemicals.

Some insects glow all over, and some only in certain places. Some glow all the time, and some only in bursts or flashes. In any event, the glowing is caused by the oxidation of luciferin by luciferase. In English, a specific chemical (called "luciferin" by early physiologists because it could "ignite," so to speak, to make light... "lucifer," get it?) is chemically changed ("oxidized;" electrons are removed from it resulting in its acquiring a positive charge) by a special enzyme ("luciferase;" an enzyme is a special kind of protein that speeds up chemical reactions). Chemical reactions can be of two basic types, one kind requires energy, and the other kind gives off energy. This luciferase-luciferin reaction is of the "energy-giving-off" variety. By "energy given off" scientists mean to say that some form of energy can be detected. The are more than a few forms of energy: heat is probably the most common kind of energy given off by a chemical reaction, but light (radiant energy) is also seen in many reactions. Incidentally, the luciferase-luciferin reaction also gives of heat energy, but it is negligible (98% of the energy is given off as light).

In lightning bugs, this reaction occurs in special cells on the ventral side (belly) of the posterior (rear end) abdomen (last segment of the insect). The special cells are probably derived from fat cells, and are sandwiched between a reflective layer of cells inside and a transparent cuticle ("skin," sort of) outside. These cells are under the control of the nervous system, which will supply the additional materials necessary to the cells to effect the chemical reaction, stuff like the enzyme itself, oxygen, blood, adrenaline and other compounds. Without some kind of control, the organs would flash all the time or simply stay lit, but you've probably noticed that fireflies only flash at night, dusk being the most popular time.

Answer 2

Flashing Lightning Bugs are trying to attract mates. Among most but not all species of North American Lightning Bugs, males fly about flashing while females perch on vegetation, usually near the ground. If the female sees a flasher and she's ready to mate she responds by flashing right after the male's last flash. A short flash dialogue takes place as the male flies closer and closer, and then, if all goes well, they mate.

So that a flasher doesn't attract a firefly of a different species, each Lightning Bug species has its own specific flash pattern. Flash patterns range from continuous glows to single flashes, to series of multi-pulsed flashes.

Among some species both males and females flash, but among others only the members of one sex do it. Some Lightning Bug species don't flash at all. All known firefly larvae, which are wingless and mostly live on the ground and under bark, produce light. If you see only a glow on the ground, it can be tricky deciding whether you're seeing a firefly larva, a glow-worm, or some other luminescent insect.

As to how they glow: they use two
chemicals called luciferin and luciferase. The luciferase is an enzyme, a
protein catalyst which is not consumed in its reaction with luciferin. The
luciferin changes chemically and gives off light. Whenever an electron drops
an energy level (a quantum leap) in a molecule, it gives off a photon of
light.

Answer 3

There are two questions here:
1. What is responsible for the glow, and
2. Do they also glow during the day or only in the night?

The chemistry of the glow is fairly simple (luciferase+ luciferin) and while man can reproduce the glow in the laboratory, it is not currently economical.

For the second question, I think they do that so that they can see their way in the dark!!! And to attract a mate or obtain food (if the male is not of the same species, the female eats him!!)

Answer 4

Lightening bugs (or fireflys) "glow" at night because they are trying to actractt a mate. Using a bright light will lure another unsepecting lightening bug to them, so they can make more lightening bugs.

Answer 5

Flashing Lightning Bugs are trying to attract mates. Among most but not all species of North American Lightning Bugs, males fly about flashing while females perch on vegetation, usually near the ground. If the female sees a flasher and she's ready to mate she responds by flashing right after the male's last flash. A short flash dialogue takes place as the male flies closer and closer, and then, if all goes well, they mate.

Answer 6

Because if they glowed in the day time you could not see them.

Answer 7

some weird chemicals i think they glow during the day too did you no that those chemicals that glow are in glow sticks

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Bio-luminesence - chemical reaction causing light - it will also occur during daylight - thet don't decide when to glow lol

Answer 10

Because they use it like a flashlight and use it at night because they need it to be able to see where they are going since they can't see with their own eyes