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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The most Instagrammable bird?
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International Mountain Day
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Welcome to California
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Look to the north sky tonight for the Perseids
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A fortress in the sky
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Porto Cathedral, Portugal
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A temple, preserved
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These patterns tell a story
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Looking for peace on the precipice
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Brown bears, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska
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Art abounds at the Palais Garnier
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Chapel of St. Michel on Lake Serre-Ponçon, Hautes-Alpes, France
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World Elephant Day
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National Trails Day
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A yearly sign that spring has sprung
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Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
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Don’t get lost in there
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Burrowing owls
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Sailing across the ice
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Central Highlands of Vietnam
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A bridge too Fawr
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Ringing in the new year at Teotihuacan
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Protect your neck
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New York City Marathon
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Blink and you ll miss it
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It s a good day to be green
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Pont dArcole over the Seine river, Paris, France
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White trilliums blooming in Ontario, Canada
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Wander the ancient medina
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What, no escalator?