Saturday, July 5, 2008

Bioluminescence

Tiny but awesome, eh? For three nights in a row this creature (actual size) was glowing in exactly the same place on the concrete steps outside. The last few nights it was on the wall next to the step.
Any of you nature mavens know what this bioluminescent insect might be??
I go out walking in the cool of the evening and often return after dark. Hope this doesn't sound pathetic, but it IS nice to have someone waiting for me with the light on. LOL!
Other animals, bigger ones, are waiting for your visit this weekend at Camera Critters.

37 comments:

  1. I think it's a glow worm. I came across one once many years ago in a place they call the Arroyo Seco. I am reminded of a popular song about glow worms!

    GLOW-WORM
    Adaptation of the 1908 song from the German operetta "Lysistrata"

    The Mills Brothers

    Shine little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer
    Shine little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer
    Lead us lest too far we wander
    Love's sweet voice is calling yonder
    Shine little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer
    Hey, there don't get dimmer, dimmer
    Light the path below, above
    And lead us on to love!

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  2. It is rather hard to say what kind of bug or rather critter it could be. Did it stay illuminated the whole time or intermitently. Nice job though and I smiled when I read the part about waiting with the light on.

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  3. Gee thanks Palm Axis! Now I finally know what all the lyrics are. I grew up with that song but never saw a single glow worm in Chicago.

    Christy, it was a steady light.

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  4. Your post reminds me of a chain of motels we have in the U.S. called Motel 6. Their motto is "we'll leave the light on for you!" Apparently your little insect is leaving the light on for you as well. Lol!

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  5. Maybe it's a tiny UFO, sent to illuminate your way home! :)
    Cheers, Klaus

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  6. Klaus, the color certainly in like... alien green. And the little one looks out of this world. Who knows...?

    AppleDebbie, and I do appreciate this "lamp unto my feet." Who pays the electric bill at Motel 6? hehe

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  7. Is that a firefly? The kids love chasing them at night and trying o catch them.

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  8. How fascinating! I have no clue … but think this is a ‘kewl’ post for Camera Critters. Thanks for dropping by mine at Small Reflections earlier.
    Hugs and blessings,

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  9. Dina: I was going to guess a glow worm. I remember it from the Mills Brother song about one from my youth.

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  10. That is so neat! And, your comment about someone waiting for you with the light on, really made me smile.

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  11. We are going out tonight to see the fireflies! I wonder if I can get a picture. What a fun shot you got!

    Have a great weekend.

    My Camera Critter

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  12. "waiting with the light on..." Very funny... he/she/it doesn't seem to give a whole lot of light... maybe it's one of the fairy people and you can make friends with them and get them to light your path... (Sorry. I am a silly kind of person.) Interesting post.

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  13. Hi everyone. No, mine wasn't a firefly. I caught enough of those in my youth to know the difference.
    I love it when I can give a happy post to make you smile. :D

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  14. Raven, even a little bit of light is fine for me. You're right, the tiny one seems to be from a different realm altogether. Mysterious!

    Fishing Guy, see lyrics above! OK, all of you old enough to remember Glow Worm, let's sing together.

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  15. Wow, that's really cool! The only creature that glows around here (that I've seen) is a firefly, and that obviously isn't one. Very, very neat share!

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  16. I've never seen a glow worm either, but I remember the song (thank you, Palm). I grew up near Chicago, too (DeKalb), but it was only fireflies there.

    So why not a faerie? You live in a magical place. But when you think about it, a glow worm is magical enough.

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  17. Remaerkable colour, whatever it is and so small.

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  18. I miss seeing that! So rare to see fireflies these days!

    My CC is posted HERE.

    I would appreciate it if you would check it out as well. Thanks!

    Happy Weekends!

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  19. Wil, that would be cool to see a whole cave of them. Are they on long strings?

    Rhea, Babooshka, and Jenn, thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

    Petrea and Raven, I'm not into faeries, but right, Jerusalem and the Hills are pretty magical/mystical. Maybe it's all the same but by different names.

    Petrea, I remember calling fireflies lightning bugs. Is that a Midwestern thing?

    The terminology seems confused depending on which English you speak, but now I read that the larvae of fireflies are commonly called glowworms.

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  20. Yes it's very nice to have someone waiting fot you. I think it must be some kind of fly. Great shot.

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  21. how cool is this ??and yes the presence would be comforting Dina your posts are always so interesting sandy

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  22. The glowworms are hanging down indeed. They look like jewels. Every body was admiring the beauty of these caves.

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  23. Hi Dina

    The nature is not incredible?

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  24. The easy guess would be a firefly but I will go for the click beetle, which I think, is the brightest of the bioluminescent insects.

    BTW, I grew up in Chicago too. South side boy but a Cubs fan!

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  25. Came upon your blog visiting i beati. Have never been to Israel and it's wonderful to visit vicariously through you. It's been a wonderful journey and I've only spent 15 minutes. Where else is it possible to feel at home and get to the know the host/hostess except through blogosphere! Thank you for sharing. Petra

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  26. I added your blog to my list so that I wouldn't forget to return. It was very nice of you having me. Petra

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  27. alien! alien! did you try holding it?

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  28. Thanks, Dick and I Beati, for concurring. (Funny word.)
    Wil, if I am ever in New Zealand I'll seek out those caves.
    Marcos, how right you are!
    Dan, a click beetle? Oi, another idea to Google. OK. South Side, eh? I was a Northsider, close to the lake, when there was still a wild shore to play on, summer and winter.
    Dong, are you kidding!? Me, pick up an alien that looks radioactive?? hehehehe

    Petra Michelle, welcome to Jerusalem and to our blogger friends' circle.
    Your blogs, especially
    http://petramichelle.blogspot.com/
    are alive with your images in words and pictures! Glad we meet.

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  29. Thank you Dina, for your kind words and warm welcome. Petra

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  30. This is so great! I'm missing the fireflies in Illinois on those warm humid nights. If you have one, there must be more somewhere.

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  31. A Petra and a Petrea! (I think that's fortunate.)

    Dina, I remember we used "firefly" and "lightning bug" interchangeably. The latter is surely a colloquialism, but I don't know if it's exclusive to the Midwest. Means the same, though.

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  32. Kay, you're back to the computer!
    What a huge move you made to Hawaii. So do you have no fireflies on the island?

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  33. Pathetic-I think its just precious!

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  34. This is so brilliant. What a fantastic little creature :)

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