Happy 4th of July!

With all of the fireworks and celebrations, we thought we would take today to tell you about plants and animals that light up our lives here in Georgia! 

Fireflies: Fireflies glow due to a chemical reaction in their hind ends that produces a flashing greenish light. This is called bioluminescence which means they produce their own light via that chemical reaction. Fireflies use their glow to attract a mate and while their numbers are dwindling due to pesticide use, they can be found in Georgia. If you want to help these incredible little creatures eliminate your use of pesticides, reduce your light pollution outside, and also leave your leaf litter on the ground and mow less often as they use leaf litter to lay their eggs and overwinter. 

Jellyfish: Jellies may have a sting that irritates and itches, but more than half of all jellies can GLOW! More than half of all jellyfish species are bioluminescent (that chemical reaction that produces light), and they use their light to startle predators, attract prey, and communicate. Jellyfish glow in many colors, including blue, green, and purple. The most common place to see bioluminescence is the ocean as light filters out quickly in the water and the darkness means that many animals have to produce their own light to see or to escape from predators. 

Photo: from the Aquarium of the Pacific

Alligator Eyes: Alligator eyes don’t actually glow BUT we see the shine of a reflective membrane in their eyes called a tapetum lucidum. This membrane reflects light back into the photoreceptor cells. This allows alligators to see better in low light and murky waters. This is the same membrane that gives cats their eyeshine as well! 

Biofluroescent Animals: Some animals produce a glow that our eyes can’t see but animals who can see in a broader spectrum than us can. Animals who are biofluorescent absorb light at one wavelength (ie. when you shine an Ultraviolet black light on them) and produce a glow at another wavelength (ie pretty colors!) Pocket gophers which are native to Georgia glow orange and blue under a blacklight and Opossum glow a hot pink! Why? We aren’t sure but it could be signaling for mates, warnings to other species, or maybe it’s just to be pretty. Whatever the reason, it’s VERY cool! 

Pocket Gopher Glowing under blacklight

Opossum glowing pink under blacklight

When you are enjoying the fireworks this year, we hope you take a moment to appreciate the natural beauty of this world and make sure you are setting off your own fireworks in a safe place away from wild places! 

Happy 4th of July!