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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					Killer whales in Spildra, Norway
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					Cherry blossoms spring to life
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					Bangkok, Thailand
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					National Umbrella Day
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					Fall comes to Pando
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					A legend and a legendary home
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					Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park shines
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					Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
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					The largest American bison around
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					Santorini, Greece
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					Village of Zahara de la Sierra, Cadiz, Spain
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					Tintern Abbey, Wales
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					It s a ruff life
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					A century since Tut s tomb was discovered
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					A view from the top
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					Celebrating 200 years of statehood
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					Tolkien Reading Day
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					Join the parade for World Elephant Day
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					Ringing in the new year at Teotihuacan
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					Colorful cows of the reef
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					Dusky eagle-owls, Pakistan
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					Belgium celebrates its independence
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					A great white egret in Hungary
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					Manatee Appreciation Day
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					A place called ‘Peace’ in India
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					Petroglyphs near Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
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					‘Ciao’ from Varenna
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					Perseid meteor shower over Oregon
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					American goldfinch
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					Ocracoke Lighthouse on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina
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