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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Womens History Month
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Martin Luther King Day
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National Roller Coaster Day
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A look at Uranus, seventh planet from the sun
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Native American Heritage Day
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Happy birthday to Crater Lake National Park
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Red fox in the Netherlands
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Take a break! It s Labor Day!
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It s ∞ Day!
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Cranborne Chase, England
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Monarch butterflies in Angangueo, Mexico
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There once was a lighthouse from...
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Heceta Head Light, Florence, Oregon
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In celebration of cats
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Mardi Gras
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To Roswell, and beyond!
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Happy New Years Eve!
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It s World Bee Day
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Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
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Via Krupp, Capri, Italy
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All is silent for Big Ben’s musical milestone
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Castellfollit de la Roca, Catalonia, Spain
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Saint Nicholas Day in Verbier, Switzerland
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Museum Night in Berlin
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Zion National Park turns 103
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Ruins of a royal temple
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Earth at Perihelion
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It s Australia Day
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Penguin Awareness Day
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Celebrating 30 years of eye-opening images