After that, the three of them went downstairs together.

Li You also took an empty mineral water bottle.

Use it to install fireflies.

Open the store door and come outside.

The group of fireflies were flying over the vegetable garden.

The three of them went directly to the edge of the vegetable garden. They stood on the ground and looked up at the fireflies. They felt a little different from when they were watching them upstairs.

Every firefly shone brightly, which made Mu Qingye sigh, "Fireflies are definitely one of the most magical insects, right?"

Li You nodded, "Absolutely. Among the huge insect groups, there are only a few insects that can emit light. Even among all living things, those that can emit light are very rare."

"Besides fireflies, what other insects can emit light?" Ling Xiaoru asked.

Li You said: "There is also a kind of earthworm that can emit light, called luminous earthworms. They can produce a kind of luminous mucus. This kind of earthworm can grow up to half a meter. There is also a kind of dinoflagellates, which can emit a kind of blue light. At night

When it comes, they like to gather on the coast. It forms a bright and spectacular blue tide, which is very beautiful. In addition, there is a kind of glowworm over there in New Zealand. There seems to be no others."

Ling Xiaoru and Mu Qingye both nodded. The insect population is so huge, but there are only a few species that can emit light.

Moreover, I feel that the glow of fireflies is the most magical and beautiful.

Flashing and flashing, like a neon light.

Li You nodded, "It is indeed the fireflies that glow the most beautifully."

Mu Qingye added: "Fireflies appear in summer, but what about other seasons? Where are they?"

Li You said: "There are no fireflies in other seasons. Or to be more precise, there are no adult fireflies.

Firefly pupae hatch into adults in the summer, and then live only about a week. A few can live up to 20 days, but not more than 30 days.

During this time, they will complete the most important thing in their lives, mating.

The female firefly then lays eggs.

After that, both the male and female fireflies will die soon.

The eggs slowly turn into larvae, then pupae, and finally hatch into adults. This period of time takes about 10 months. It is basically the summer of the second year.

Life goes round and round like this."

Is that so?

Mu Qingye and Ling Xiaoru were both a little surprised. They didn't expect that the life of a firefly was so short.

"Although life is short, it is colorful." Ling Xiaoru sighed.

Li You nodded, "That's true. Moreover, fireflies don't just glow as adults. They glow in all four stages: eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults."

This again surprised both Mu Qingye and Ling Xiaoru.

How to glow during the three stages of egg, larvae and pupa?

Li You smiled and said: "The principle of luminescence is the same as that of adults, but the location of luminescence is slightly different. Pupae generally do not emit light and will only emit light if they are disturbed by humans or invaded by natural enemies."<

/p>

Mu Qingye and Ling Xiaoru are both called miraculous. They are indeed one of the most miraculous insects.

"Then what is the purpose of the adult insect's glow?" Mu Qingye asked again.

"The main thing is to find a mate." Li You said, "All the fireflies flying in the sky are male fireflies. They are all trying to find a mate."

"Boss, how do you know these are all male fireflies?" Ling Xiaoru asked.

Li You smiled and said: "Because female fireflies have no wings and cannot fly."

Huh?

Ling Xiaoyue and Mu Qingye were both unexpected again.

Li You continued: "Of course, not all female fireflies have wings. There are many types of fireflies, and most of them have no wings."

Ling Xiaoru and Mu Qingye both nodded, feeling that they had gained knowledge again.

"Are fireflies considered beneficial insects or pests?" Ling Xiaoru asked again.

"Beneficial insects." Li You replied, "Fireflies are carnivorous insects in their larval stage and mainly feed on snails that destroy crops."

"What about the adults?"

"Adults hardly eat or drink, and at most they eat dew, pollen, or nectar. Only a very few species of firefly adults will prey on small phototactic insects and even other types of fireflies by emitting light."<

/p>

Ling Xiaoru and Mu Qingye both nodded again.

I learned a lot about fireflies today. Not bad, not bad.

At this time, a firefly flew down and flashed in front of several people.

Mu Qingye said happily: "Can we catch him in a situation like this?"

Li You nodded, "You can hold it in your hands with both hands."

"Okay."

Mu Qingye stretched out his hands and easily took the fireflies into his hands.

I opened a small gap and looked in. The fireflies were still flickering. It seemed that I had not noticed that I had become a turtle in a urn.

This is Mu Qingye’s first time catching fireflies in his life.

She was very excited.

After a while, he asked Li You again: "Boss, how do you put them into the bottle?"

"Just pinch it gently and put it in." Li You said.

At the same time, unscrew the cap of the mineral water bottle.

Mu Qingye agreed, then carefully pinched the firefly with two fingers.

After being pinched, the firefly finally stopped glowing.

"It doesn't shine anymore." Mu Qingye said.

Li You said: "It is frightened now. When you put it in the bottle, it will glow again after a while."

Mu Qingye nodded and put the fireflies into the bottle.

Li You capped the bottle.

Then he walked into the kitchen, lit a fire on the stove, heated an iron pick red, and randomly poked a few holes around the mineral water bottle.

This is naturally done to allow the air in the bottle to circulate.

Back outside the store, Ling Xiaoru and Mu Qingye had each caught a firefly.

Put it all in a bottle.

Continue to catch, catch a few more and put them in.

Li You also took action.

The three of them had a great time catching fireflies.

Unknowingly, there were at least 20 fireflies in the bottle. Some of them glowed again, while others did not.

That's almost enough, no more arrests.

I’ve caught so many and I’m satisfied.

Mu Qingye held the bottle in his hand and looked around, as if he couldn't get enough of it.

At this time, there was a crisp sound of insects not far away.

After Mu Qingye heard this, he asked Li You: "Boss, what kind of noise is this? Is it a cricket or a cricket?"

Li You smiled and said: "It's both a cricket and a cricket."

"Ah?" Mu Qingye was confused, "Why?"

Li You smiled again and said: "Because cricket and cricket are the same kind of insect. Cricket is the scientific name, and its common name is cricket. It is also called weaver bug, general bug, night song bug, etc."

Mu Qingye was a little confused, "Is a cricket just a cricket? Isn't there another kind of insect that can sing like this? What kind of insect is that?"

Li You said: "You should be talking about grasshoppers. Grasshoppers also make sounds similar to this. Their vocalization method is also the same, they all make sounds by rubbing their wings against each other."

"A grasshopper?" Mu Qingye was thinking, and then said: "That should be it. Sometimes I just can't tell them apart."

Li Youdao: "The difference between grasshoppers and crickets is very obvious. First of all, the colors are different. Grasshoppers are green, while crickets are dark brown."

"Yes, yes." Mu Qingye nodded hurriedly, "I remember that there are two kinds of insects that call like this, one is green and the other is brown. I just thought they were crickets and crickets. It should indeed be the case.

It's a grasshopper and a cricket."

Li You added: "On the contrary, grasshoppers and grasshoppers, that is, locusts look quite similar. Many people can't tell them apart."

Mu Qingye said: "I can't tell the difference either. Boss, how did you determine that the cry was that of a cricket? Isn't it possible that it was a grasshopper?"
To be continued...