It’s the season for spotting fireflies in some parts of the US, especially in the humid or damp areas that the winged beetles love. For fireflies themselves, it’s a season of love. They create these soft flashes of light as they search for a suitable mate. The glow is produced by a chemical reaction in a firefly’s abdomen. In addition to attracting a partner, the light is believed to deter potential predators by signaling that the insect’s chemical makeup may produce a foul taste or even be toxic. The fireflies in our homepage image were photographed with a long exposure in the Philippines, where fireflies are a popular tourist attraction. Some firefly species here and in other parts of Southeast Asia are known for their synchronized flashing, creating dramatic light shows in the dark.
A summertime light show
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Happy New Years Eve!
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Colle Santa Lucia, Dolomites, Italy
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Beautiful baobabs
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Prayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan
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The mountaintop of toppled gods
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International Day of the Tropics
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National Moon Day
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Think deep thoughts
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Schönbrunn Palace Park, Vienna, Austria
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The mighty, mighty mushroom
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Who s hiding in the kelp?
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It s Star Wars Day
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Presidents Day
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Tintern Abbey, Wales
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A night of art and culture
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Red squirrel
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Norway s Kjeragbolten boulder
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Jackie Robinson Day
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Who doesn’t love a ‘Puppy’?
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Bidding summer adieu
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European Day of Parks
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The Spirit of Harlem by Louis Delsarte
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Visiting a Maratha fortress
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Moselle River loop near Kröv, Germany
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Golling Waterfall, Salzburg, Austria
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Denali National Park
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Go with the rainbow flow
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Harvest season begins
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A cry for independence
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World Architecture Day