A North American firefly flies through the air. There are more than 177 species of fireflies in the United States. Places like the greatest Smoky Mountains and Congaree national parks in the southern United States are some of the best places to see fireflies in the summer. Source: John Abbott Nature Picture Library
Words: Jason Bittel
When people plan trips to national parks and ecological reserves in the United States, they look forward to seeing the wolves of Yellowstone and the alligators of the Everglades. But if you talk to any insect scientist, they'll tell you that the best things are often in small sizes.
Kylle Roy, an entomologist with the U.S. Forest Service, said Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is known for its colorful birds, "but we also have a lot of awesome arthropods here!" ”
Hawaii and the rest of the surrounding U.S. are home to the little ones. Next, let's look for it** and you can see these charming little creatures. You can also tune in to the latest episode of National Geographic, A Real Bug's life), starting January 24, the series will be on Disney's streaming platform Disney+.
Hawaiian smiley spider
Have you ever seen a spider smile at you?
Don't be afraid, there are only 2 of these special arachnids in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park54 cm, and there is no danger to humans. In addition, the part of their smile is not their mouthparts, but their abdomen. Known as smiley spiders, they are miniature and bright yellow in color, with markings on their bodies that can be recognized as a large smile.
Roy, who happens to be a Native Hawaiian, says, "The coolest thing about smiley spiders is that the mother spider takes care of the young spiders. ”
Female spiders will hunt their prey and then share it with their young. Of the various spiders, less than 1% are thought to have adopted this lifestyle.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to major habitats for endemic insects, including the smiley spider and the Hawaiian red butterfly. The latter is a beautiful creature of bright orange and black, and is also the state bug of the state of Hawaii.
As you hike through the Hawaiian rainforest, Roy says, you should also keep an eye out for the Hawaiian red butterfly, another arthropod that doesn't exist anywhere else on the planet. The Hawaiian red butterfly, also known as pulelehua, is a state insect of the state of Hawaii with bright orange and black markings on its wings.
The islands are also home to 18 other species of moth larvae, whose appetites are as good as those of the main character in the children's book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Unlike almost any other herbivorous caterpillar, they crave meat. Some of them even have camouflage colors that make them look like wood so that the prey doesn't notice them, and then the caterpillars suddenly move forward and grip the prey tightly with their forelimbs.
Roy said the caterpillar's carnivorous nature is thought to have evolved in an environment where Hawaii Island lacked numerous other natural predators. Carnivorous caterpillars have also been found to attack smiley spiders.
The Hawaiian red butterfly is a species endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It feeds on the sap of the Hawaiian acacia (koa). Credit: Steven Lee Montgomery, Photo Resource Hawaii Alamy
California monarch butterfly
Most people are already familiar with the monarch butterfly.
The insect's wings are wider than the average palm width, and its Halloween-inspired colors are eye-catching, and the generational relay and continental migration have made the population famous.
But did you know that not all monarch butterflies make their way to Mexico every winter? In fact, a group of monarch butterflies that live independently off the west coast of North America have their own travel plans.
The western monarch butterfly spends its caterpillar period in the western Rocky Mountains," said Emma Pelton, a senior conservation biologist at the Xerces Society. ”
The best places to see thousands of western monarch butterflies are in national parks and sanctuaries such as Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove and Lighthouse Field State Beach. Sometimes you can see these orange and black butterflies in more urban areas like the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Pelton said.
And there's no better time to do that between late November and January, she said. The sunnier the weather, the warmer it is.
If it's sunny and the temperature is around the degree, you'll see thousands of monarch butterflies flying around, and they're out foraging for nectar," Pelton said, "and it's going to be a very magical time."
Water-loving flies in the Western Lakes region
When on vacation, many people try to avoid flies. But these freediving flies might be worth a trip to Lake Mono in California, Lake Albert in Oregon and the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
Most flies spend their lives on the ground or in the air," said Floris van Breugel, a neuroecologist at the University of Nevada in Reno. ”
However, alkali flies have a different structure. Their bodies are covered in waterproof hair, and thanks to this all-natural "wool vest", they lock in a layer of air that allows them to penetrate the salt water. Once underwater, the alkali flies lay eggs and even take a break to eat a large algae meal.
Van Bruegel says that because these bodies of water are extremely salty and rich in other alkaline compounds, there is none of the fish that normally prey on water-repellent flies. This allows the alkali fly (also known as the salt lake fly) to make the most of an untapped resource.
In Lake Mono, California, an alkali fly swims underwater wrapped in protective bubbles. Source: Floris van Breugel Nature Picture Library
On a warm and sunny summer day, you can often see small flies crawling underwater, which seem to sparkle due to the bubbles that wrap around them. Van Bruegel said.
Of course, some people may be disgusted by the sight of a beach littered with live flies, but Van Bruegel mentions that they are doing something that few other creatures can, let alone playing a role in the ecosystem as a whole.
Lake Mono is an important stopover for many migratory birds flying from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere," he said, "and they rely on these flies to fill their stomachs and store energy." ”
Synchronized flashing fireflies
Kids love fireflies. There are about 2,000 species of this bioluminescent beetle in the world. There are plenty of wonders waiting to be enjoyed. And in the United States, firefly light shows in many regions take on a completely different character.
Fireflies have evolved to develop the ability to communicate with each other by emitting a soft flash pattern through their tails. Among the many types of fireflies, males flutter and twinkle, gently slapping a Morse code of flashing combinations, and females respond to them if they are interested.
In other words, most of the shiny fireflies you see at night are males, competing for the favor of females.
However, fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina and Congari National Park in South Carolina exhibit some peculiar behavior.
In these lineages, male fireflies have evolved the ability to synchronize flashes. Said entomologist Sara Lewis, author of "Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies."
This suggests that if the weather is warm and the timing is right, visitors to the light show will not only see dozens of fireflies twinkling in the night, but will also see thousands of fireflies light up and go out at the same time, just like someone flipping a switch.
On a summer night, in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, fireflies fly by with their flashes of light. This insect attracts potential mating partners by staging magnificent "light shows". Source: D**ID Liittschwager
Of course, as with many world-famous wildlife phenomena, the synchronized flickering of fireflies attracts large crowds, which means that visitors have to have the good fortune of hitting the lottery jackpot before heading to. So, Lewis has some different suggestions.
Honestly, I think the best places to see fireflies are in your backyard, in a nearby park, or in a local grove. I'm not kidding," Lewis said, "and there are more than 170 different fireflies across the United States, and they're all very beautiful." ”
National Geographic's "Bug Adventures" began airing on Disney's streaming platform Disney+ on January 24.
Translator: Green Wine).