By Kelly Vowels
Wonders of the Night
Almost everyone has memories of watching fireflies in their yards as children, but very few people realize that these glowing insects can also be pollinators. Fireflies, or lightning bugs, visit flowers during the day and have been shown to be significant pollinators.
From Larvae to Adults
Fireflies belong to the family Lampyridae and undergo complete metamorphosis, which means their larval and adult forms look completely different. Most firefly larvae are predatory, feeding on slugs, snails, and other insects. As adults, many continue to be predatory, but they also visit flowers to feed on pollen and nectar.
Daytime Visitors
There are several species of daytime fireflies that can be seen visiting flowers. At places like Big Prairie, many have been spotted flying from milkweed flowers, feeding as they move from bloom to bloom.
Toxicity and “Femme Fatales”
Fireflies can be toxic to anything that eats them. They don’t eat much as adults, and researchers are still trying to understand where and how they obtain their toxicity. Some species in the Photuris genus have evolved a “femme fatale” behavior. Females mimic the light patterns of other species to attract males, then consume the males to obtain their toxicity and pass it down to their offspring.
Some of this toxicity may come from milkweeds that certain species of fireflies consume, although this has not been fully studied. What we do know is that many species have been found visiting common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), and that when these fireflies visit the flowers, they pick up pollen and carry it to others.
An Important Role in Pollination
Although fireflies play only a small role in pollination, it’s an important role — one that hasn’t been fully studied. As more research is done, more fascinating facts about their contribution will be discovered, leading to a better understanding of their role in pollination. These amazing beetles deserve to be protected, not only for the wonder they bring to summer nights, but also for their quiet, vital role in the pollination of plants.
