Fireflies

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Date __________________________

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Fireflies
Fireflies are not really flies. They are beetles. They are one of the
largest order of insects. There are over two thousand kinds of fireflies
found in the world.
Fireflies are related to the ladybug, water beetle, and May beetle.
Fireflies can be found on all the continents except Antarctica.
Female fireflies either have very short wings or no wings at all. Male
fireflies have two pairs of wings. The first pair makes a cover over the
second pair. The wings that form a cover are called elytra or sheath
wings. The second pair of wings are used for flying.
wings

Fill in the missing words. Write them on the line.

Read the paragraphs above for the answers.

1. The second set of wings are used for ________________________________ .

2. Male fireflies have __________________________________ pairs of wings.

3. Fireflies are not flies but are _____________________________________ .

4. Fireflies can be found on all continents except _________________________________ .

5. There are over two _____________________________________ kinds of the fireflies.

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Fireflies
Fireflies have three main body parts. They are the head, the thorax, and the
abdomen. The head is the front part. The eyes, mouth, and antennae are on the
head. The thorax is the middle part.
Fireflies are oblong shaped insects. Their bodies are flat. They grow to be about one-quarter
to three-quarter inches long. Most fireflies are black or dull brown and have markings of red,
yellow, or orange. Some of the enemies of the fireflies are spiders, lizards, frogs and some
birds.
The larvae of the fireflies eat earthworms, other insect larvae, and snails.
They inject their prey with poison.

Draw a firefly showing the three main body parts. Draw arrows to point to the threebody parts.
Write the name of each body part on the correct line.
The three body parts are: head, thorax, and the abdomen.
Add legs, wings, eyes, mouth and antennae.
simple example

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Fireflies
The firefly has four stages of development.
This is called metamorphosis.
The first stage is the egg. The female usually deposits her eggs in
dark areas near the water.
Other females will be attracted to her light and will gather at the
same spot to lay eggs. They lay eggs in the dark hours for several
nights.
Shortly after laying all her eggs the female will die. Her life span is
only four weeks.

Look up the definition of the word metamorphosis. Write it on the lines below.

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Color the word.

metamorphosis
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Fireflies
The eggs turn into a wormlike larvae. This is the second stage of
metamorphosis. They spend more time in the larvae stage than any other
stage. Larvae live on land, in burrows, and under water. They spend autumn
and winter underwater.
When spring arrives they are ready for the third stage of metamorphosis.
This takes place on land, usually in the soft, moist side of a river or stream bank.
The larvae burrow into the soft earth. They secrete a liquid that forms a wall
or chamber. It is waterproof.
The third stage of metamorphosis is the pupal stage. They rest quietly in the
darkness of the earth. Their lanterns glow softly. Forty days later the firefly begins to stir.
This is the fourth stage when they turn into adult fireflies.
Some fireflies are called glow worms or lightning bugs. A special characteristic of the
firefly is its ability to produce light. About two-thirds of all adult fireflies produce light. The
young larvae of all fireflies, and some of the eggs produce light.

Draw a picture of fireflies glowing outside at night.

Write the names of the 4 stages of
metamorphosis on the lines below.

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Fireflies
Fireflies in the Garden
Here come real stars to fill the upper skies,
And here on earth come emulating flies,
That though they never equal stars in size,
(And they were never really stars at heart)
Achieve at times a very star-like start.
Only, of course, they can't sustain the part.
..... Robert Frost
Write your own poem about firelfies in the box below.

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Fireflies
Fireflies can often be seen flying over lawns and meadows at nighttime. It is
fascinating to watch their greenish-yellow lights shine and flicker.
The fireflys amazing ability to produce light is due to a special organ. It is
located on the underside of the insects abdomen. Surprisingly, the organ is called
a lantern.
Fireflies are also known as glowworms. The non flying female firefly glows
brightly. The flying male fireflys light is not as bright and glows off and on.

Read the questions below. Find the answers to the questions in books or on the Internet.
Write your answers on the lines in complete sentences.

1. What are some of the difference between a fly and a firefly? _______________________
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2. How does a firefly make light? ______________________________________________

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Fireflies
A Few Facts about Fireflies
There are over 1,100 species of fireflies.

Fireflies are beetles.

Did You Know ?

The color of the light emitted
from the fireflies are usually
yellow, green, or pale-red.

Fireies glow during the

daytime but in the light you
cannot see their glow.

Look up facts about fireflies.

Write them on the lines below.

The common North American firefly

is about 0.4 inches long (1cm).

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Fireflies are
dark and may
have yellow or
orange marks.

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One firefly can produce

about 500 eggs.

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Fireflies are a winged beetle.

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Fireflies
Each species of fireflies have their own special code. It is recognized by all
members of their own group. Scientists have been able to decipher one hundred
and thirty different codes.
Some codes are very simple. They have one flash of light repeated at regular
intervals. Others have a more complicated way of light that varies in brightness and speed. It
resembles the Morse code. Sometimes when these codes are transmitted they look like a single
line of light.
Write a story about fireflies. It can be make-believe or real.
Below are some words that will help you get started.

firefly, signal, light, lightning bug, eggs, flashes, nighttime,

flicker, glow, worm

title

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Fireflies
During the springtime or early summer the male fireflies seek female
fireflies near the edges of woods and fields or along winding streams.
The female firefly perches on twigs or branches and looks for a male
firefly with its special code in the night sky. When a female firefly sees a male firefly matching
her code she responds with her signal.
Scientists have learned a great deal about the light producing ability of the
firefly. They have discovered that the insects light producing chemical may
be useful in detecting disease in human cells.


Scientists are continuing their research using fireflies. Many questions
still remain unanswered. People enjoy watching fireflies glow in the evening.

Read each sentence below. Write the correct answer on the line.

1. _______________________ have learned a great deal about the light

producing firefly.

2. People enjoy watching the fireflies _______________________ in the evening.

3. Scientists believe the ________________________ of the firefly will be useful in

detecting disease.

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Fireflies
Spelling
Print the word that is spelled correctly.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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signel
signal
sigull

frye
fier
fire

__________________

cood
code
coud

__________________

lavai
larvaee
larvae

__________________

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ublong
oblong
oblung

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__________________

10

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Fireflies
Word Unscramble
Unscramble each word. Print it on the line.

etebesl

_______________

lyf

_______________

lboogn

_______________

deco

_______________

gtilh

_______________

erntanl

_______________

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11

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Fireflies
WORD FIND
Find and circle these words.
They run down, across, and diagonally.

thorax

wings

lantern

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light

larvae

beetles

12

fly


night


insects

head
fun
eggs

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Fireflies
CRISS CROSS
Can you fit these words into the criss cross?
Use a pencil so you can erase if you need to.

beetles
lantern

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fun

wings

13

eggs

larvae

head
thorax

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Fireflies
Answers
Page 10 - signal, fire, code, larvare, oblong
Page 11 - beetles, fly, oblong, code, light, lantern
Page 12

Page 13 -

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