Twinkle, Twinkle in a Jar

Have you begun to hear those dreaded words yet? "I'm bored," with a heavy sigh. School has been out for just a few weeks but keeping inquisitive minds busy is not always easy. For some inspiration just have a look around you and perhaps in the school library.

Even though the school year is over, the books are still here. And as long as the office is open, you can stop by to find one that may spark an interest in your child. Here is a good one, Ten Flashing Fireflies by Philemon Sturges. A beautiful little counting book that even older children will adore.



Take an evening to spend outdoors hunting for fireflies, or as you may call them, lightning bugs. Here are some suggestions for making a jar to hold some in.



Use a jar that has a wide enough mouth for your hand to fit in and out easily.



Place a wet cotton ball in the jar to make the air moist. Fireflies need humidity in the air to help them breath. Also add a few leaves and a twig.



Cover the top of the jar with a piece of hose secured by a rubber band. This works better than a lid with holes as the holes may not be large enough for adequate ventilation or they may be too large and allow the fireflies escape before you release them.



When you are ready to release them (it's best not to keep them longer than a day or two as they only live a short time as adults), let them go at night when they are active. For an extra special time, pack a small picnic to enjoy at dusk. Nothing fancy, just a snack and don't forget the picnic blanket.

A Few Facts About Fireflies

Both males and females flash but males are brighter as they have more sections on their abdomens that glow.

Eggs and larvae glow also. Have you heard of a glow worm? It is a firefly larva.

Firefly larva live up to two years but adults only live for a short time, as little as 7 days! They live just long enough to mate and lay eggs.

Different species of fireflies glow at different times, some at twilight while others like it completely dark. They also fly and glow at certain heights, some just above the grass while others stay high in treetops.

Not all adults glow but those that do range in color from orange to yellow to green.