Guest Paracelsus Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 With mid-Summer upon us...My mind wanders back to those Halcyon days of yore... Days of care free life as a child in a very small town in western Pennsylvania. A favorite pass time for us was catching Lightning Bugs in a jar. (We did a few other things with them as well... But that's best left to the imagination ). Anyway...In that area, and in south Jersey where we later lived, we always called them Lightning Bugs. I know many people refer to them as Fire Flys...So I am kind of curious if this is a regional thing.It would be interesting if those who vote, would post what region of North America they reside in.We don't have any in north Texas ... And southern California, where I previously lived, is also bereft of these fascinating Coleopterans . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross549 Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 We used to see them occasionally in Wisconsin. I have seen them in the Norfolk area as well. They are FIRE FLIES!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nlinecomputers Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 Both. I hear both terms used here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacher Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 I can't think back that far. I think thety were lightening bugs in Missouri. Can't say that I have seen any at the beach. It hurts the brain to think back that many decades. :PJulia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Paracelsus Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 Both. I hear both terms used here.NO FAIR!! You have 'em in west Texas?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebone Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 I voted lightning bugs. And I think we did the same things, besides putting them in jars, that Paracelsus and his cohorts did.There were also "Dining" needles, which is probably a name my own invention. I more than likely mis-heard "Darning" needles. Anyway, those were what we called dragonflies on Long Island when I was growing up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Paracelsus Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 I more than likely mis-heard "Darning" needles. Anyway, those were what we called dragonflies on Long Island when I was growing up.Yep! I know that one as well.Got my BS from Southampton Almost majored in Entomology. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nlinecomputers Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 NO FAIR!! You have 'em in west Texas?? Lubbock has them. Midland doesn't. Not sure why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolfProRM Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 They're all over up here in Nebraska... I prefer to call them Fire bugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siebkens Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Lightning Bugs Northern panhandle, West Virginia.Lived in Wyoming for 5 years - no lightning bugs. It seems that the winters are too harsh in Wyoming. I think that lightning bugs survive through the winter underground. We love watching them when they come out in the summer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Paracelsus Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 They're all over up here in Nebraska...I prefer to call them Fire bugs Or..."Lightning Flys"???I foresee you have a great future as a Diplomat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozidave Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 They are FIRE FLIES!!!I don't know cobber, but in Australia we call them fireflies in the plural sense and firefly in the singular sense. And sometimes we don't call them anything at all, especially when you can't see any. But we have to make small allowances for foreign languages and idioms I suppose? :PROLF! Ozi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebrke Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 They're lightning bugs, and I'm really glad to see them back again here in northeastern NJ. I remember them from summer nights when I was a child. I didn't see any for years--I think they were victims of pesticide use--but I've noticed them again in the last few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longgone Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Wellll..... I have been all up an down this state (CA) as a child and as a trucker and I have not seen them anywhere so as was said earlier, can't call 'em if I can't see them .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Paracelsus Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 I don't know cobber, but in Australia we call them fireflies in the plural sense and firefly in the singular sense.I prefer the "Elizabethan" spelling... Flys (y's are much er than i's) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryB Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Well growing up in Eastern Tennessee we called them "Lighting Bugs"..same with here Virginia ...But was stationed in Boston for while and they called them FireFlies..(At least that's what I think they were saying... ..one of those "Strange Southern Boy in a Strange Nothern Town" sorta thing.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quint Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 We call them "lightning bugs" in the Ohio Valley...I believe the pre-emergent, underground larvae, are what we know as "glow worms"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross549 Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 (edited) I prefer the "Elizabethan" spelling... Flys (y's are much er than i's)Paracelsus....I am concerned that using "Elizabethan" spelling might be a bit too refined for the Water Cooler. Edited July 23, 2004 by ross549 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stryder Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 We call dem dare tings litenin bugs in my neck of the woods......Indiana. I use to catch them by the dozens and then let them out in my room after bed time. Then when I would get real sleepy I would open the window and screen so they could get out.....in my mind back then I had to make sure they got out so I could catch them again in a couple of days and do it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozidave Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 Paracelsus....I am concerned that using "Elizabethan" spelling might be a bit too refined for the Water Cooler.Foresooth Varlet! is there no liberty to spake as thee wishes? Shakeyourspeare. ROLF! PS: Why do fireflies have their 'headlights' on their bum, do they fly backwards so that they can see where they're going; or is it they just like to see where they've been? Ozi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Paracelsus Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 PS: Why do fireflies have their 'headlights' on their bum, do they fly backwards so that they can see where they're going; or is it they just like to see where they've been? :whistling:Ozi.Don't most creatures like to advertise their "Naughty Bits"?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozidave Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 Don't most creatures like to advertise their "Naughty Bits"?? Hello Paracelsus,So! in fact they are not fireflies at all, they are 'Flashers' :'( aka Flasher-Flies.That explains why you don't see them in the daytime.....the deviates are all wearing their overcoats. Ozi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozidave Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 (y's are much er than i's)I think you may be right, though I hate to admit it. Ol' McDonald had a farm........E, Y, E, Y, O! :'( NOPE! I've changed my mind again! they did zilch to help that little ditty Ozi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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