Born and raised in a small village in Java, specifically in Gemer Village, Ngargomulyo, Dukun, Magelang, Central Java. A small village with a topography of rice fields, rivers and forests in the west part of Mount Merapi National Park. If I remember my childhood, it’s not a weird activity to catch fireflies. What fun it was to catch the little creature, observe and wonder why these little creatures glow. With all child curiosity, I am amazed what makes this creature glow. And when our parents find out we catch fireflies, they will tell me that it was the nails of dead people. It scared me, so I had to let go because I was afraid of the myth. However, the admiration for the tiny creature would outweigh the fear from the rumored myth.
Rediscovering fireflies after more than 20 years, in Bali, Tegal Dukuh Camp, Taro Village, Tegallalang, Gianyar. With a difference in myth, in Taro, Bali, fireflies are believed to be the incarnation of Balinese ancestors and the Guide of the Lost Soul. In my mind the myth gives me more belief that the fireflies in Taro are really sacred. Directly connected to the spiritual community in Taro Village. By seeing fireflies in Java or in Taro, when I was child or when I am an adult now, it’s always followed by the same question, why is this tiny creature so magical? In the early 22 ages, I also struggled with my life maybe early mature, approaching the quarter life crisis so the myth about fireflies is the Guide of The Lost Soul always hits me and makes me feel safe because I feel like I’m always lost wherever I am, but with close to fireflies, I hope that my soul with will be guided in the right way.
It’s always calming to enjoy the night watching fireflies, so calming. When we dwell in the darkness of the night, moonless night, without lamp or flashlights, only ourselves and nature. Seeing how fascinating fireflies are, the flashing lights, it’s really comfortable, calming, and will always remind me and take me back to the happiness that we will find with our childhood memories with fireflies. But don’t you guys know what makes fireflies glow?
Bioluminescence
Bioluminescence is the ability of living things to produce their own light. Bioluminescence is used by organisms as an antipredator defense in some marine organisms, such as dinoflagellates, squid, crustaceans and jellyfish. Fireflies are included in organisms that can produce light. Fireflies are insects with a taxonomy Class Insecta, Order Coleoptera and from Family Lampyridae. This ability is due to a series of chemical reactions as follows. (Miller, 2014)
- Luciferin + luciferase + ATP luciferyl adenylate- luciferase + pyrophosphate
- Luciferyl adenylate- luciferase + O2 oxyluciferin + luciferase + AMP + light
Are you wondering why the fireflies light up at night? Based on phylogenetic analysis that has been carried out by researchers, supports the idea that firefly bioluminescence originated in larvae as an antipredator defense, and only later became into an adult courtship signal (Long et all, 2012). Firefly also uses flashing as a form of communication of various ecologically important behaviors such as mate attraction, mate choice, evaluation of male fitness, deceptive flash signaling to predators, an aposematic warning signal to predators, and species-specific recognition (Da Silveira, 2017).
Until now, the mechanism of fireflies turning the light production on and off is still a mystery. Some scientists think that fireflies regulate light production by controlling the oxygen supply to their photic organs. Some researchers argue that the mechanism is under the control of the nervous system. The interesting thing about fireflies as well as bioluminescent organisms are that they can control their light production. This light acts like a language where each pattern of flashes has a different meaning. Even the different flashes produced have many variations of duration, color time between flashes, and size of the luminescent organ (Miller, 2014).
However, how they produce lights is magical. When we enjoy the evening experience and the fascinating lot of fireflies in Taro, Bali. It’s takes us back to childhood happiness, to a memory in our childhood home, to a time when happiness was very simple and innocent. Memories and happiness that will never be bought and it always makes me feel like home.
Written by Margaretha Noviani
Bali, May 4 2023
References
Da Silveira, B. T. 2017. Fireflies flashing: the good, the bad and the ugly. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319913755. Accessed May 4, 2023. Pages 2-14.
Long, S. M., Jean-Louis, L., Ramos, G., Richmond, J. and Jacob, E. M. 2012. Firefly flashing and jumping spider predation. Animal Behaviour 83 (1) : 81-86.
Miller, J. 2014. Everything is illuminated: a guide to fireflies and bioluminescence. Naturalist Outreach 1(1): 1-6.