An incredible, time-lapse vision of fireflies in the wild

[n2doc]

These stunning snapshots are from a series by Japanese photographer Tsuneaki Hiramatsu, who employed a variety of time-lapse techniques to capture the awe-inspiring beauty of fireflies in flight.

The results aren't just beautiful - they offer us a whole new way of understanding these brilliant little bugs.
Many of Earth's organisms generate light via a biologically specific chemical reaction called bioluminescence. This is different from biofluorescence, by the way; the difference being that a bioluminescent organism produces light on its own, while a biofluorescent organism emits light after first absorbing light from another source.

While bioluminescence is exceedingly common in the Earth's oceans (as much as 90 percent of marine life is thought to produce bioluminescence in some form), it has a way of turning up on land, as well. Sometimes it pops up in mushrooms. Other times it's in fireflies.

more
http://digg.com/newsbar/topnews/an_incredible_time_lapse_vision_of_fireflies_in_the_wild

[Lawlbringer]

1. If I ever saw

them show up all at once like that, I think I'd crap my pants and pass out. Probably in that order.

[bmbmd]

2. Wonder how they do that

and how they shine, shine, shine? I can see them-beneath the pines.

[ashling]

3. Do you see the image on that tree in the middle

I think its George Carlin . . . or Jesus, either one

[WhoIsNumberNone]

4. That is pretty cool

I've been noticing that we've had fewer fireflies in my neck of the woods than in the old days.