Did you know that there are thousands of firefly species – New Jersey has four different types alone – and each species has a distinct flash color and pattern?   These patterns are used to attract a mate of the same species, plus the chemical that creates the light – lucibufagens – is so nasty that once a predator gets a taste of it, the flashing reminds them they never want to snack on it again!

Click here for a fun and educational firefly activity!  

By Jenny Tananbaum
Jenny Tananbaum is a writer, wife and mom to three. suburbanmom@njkidsonline.com