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Polish Fireflies


szkotja2007 27 | 1,498  
27 Mar 2008 /  #1
Do you get Fireflies in Poland and where is the best place to see them ?
We dont get them in Scotland and I think they are pretty cool.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly
Piorun - | 658  
27 Mar 2008 /  #2
Do you get Fireflies in Poland

Fireflies in Poland are known as Robaki świętojańskie.
There are 3 different species in Poland świeciuch (Phosphaenus hemipterus) iskrzyk (Phausis splendidula) and świetlik świętojański (Lampyris noctiluca)
polishgirltx  
27 Mar 2008 /  #3
I used to see fireflies a long time ago while i was on vacations, south of Poland, in August... and usually it was near a river....
OP szkotja2007 27 | 1,498  
28 Mar 2008 /  #4
Is there anywhere I would be guaranteed to see them ?
When would be the best time, late summer ?

If not Poland what about the states?

Thanks for any replies.
Piorun - | 658  
28 Mar 2008 /  #5
In Poland on a warm summer nights, you don’t have to be near a river but in the countryside with a lot of woods nearby.

In U.S. pretty much everywhere you can even see them in Chicago on a worm summer night.
polishgirltx  
28 Mar 2008 /  #6
In U.S. pretty much everywhere you can

i've never seen them in the us...
of course, it doesn't mean they aren't here...
Piorun - | 658  
28 Mar 2008 /  #7
i've never seen them in the us...

Have you been to Chicago? When you sit in your yard at night and have a bbq going you will see them all over. If you go by the lake front or any park in the city you will see them.
polishgirltx  
28 Mar 2008 /  #8
Have you been to Chicago?

yes, in April...

If you go by the lake front or any park in the city you will see them.

i guess, i need to go there one more time...

so why i haven't seen them in TX? maybe they don't live here...?
Piorun - | 658  
28 Mar 2008 /  #9
so why i haven't seen them in TX? maybe they don't live here...?

Never been to Texas myself but I’ve seen them in all northern states and even Florida so I’m sure you must have them in Texas.
polishgirltx  
28 Mar 2008 /  #10
yes, they live in TX... fireflies in the US
sledz 23 | 2,250  
29 Mar 2008 /  #11
i've never seen them in the us...
of course, it doesn't mean they aren't here...

We call them lightning bugs here
osiol 55 | 3,921  
29 Mar 2008 /  #12
I've seen them in Cornwall but nowhere else.
Do they make good pets?
OP szkotja2007 27 | 1,498  
29 Mar 2008 /  #13
I have seen them in Brittany, I am looking for somewhere I would be guaranteed to see them. I have a five year old and I know he would be amazed to see them.
krysia 23 | 3,058  
29 Mar 2008 /  #14
Do they make good pets?

You put them in a jar and use them as a flashlight.
osiol 55 | 3,921  
29 Mar 2008 /  #15
I have a five year old and I know he would be amazed to see them

I was amazed when I saw them when I was twenty five.

flashlight

But perhaps just a lantern. Batteries? No. Oil? No. Leaves? Probably. At least I don't think they're carnivorous.
krysia 23 | 3,058  
29 Mar 2008 /  #16
At least I don't think they're carnivorous.

Very. Don't stick your fingers in there, in a matter of seconds all the flesh will be gone. That's what gives them energy to shine. The more fingers they eat, the brighter they shine.
MrAmerica - | 12  
29 Mar 2008 /  #17
we use to smash them together and make glow paint
F15guy 1 | 160  
29 Mar 2008 /  #18
Chemical company in this area used to buy them by the jar. Smashed them up to discover how they made themselves glow. End result was the invention of those tubes that you can squish together and make them glow at night.

Different species flash at different rates as do males and females. Thus, they can find the right mate.
shopgirl 6 | 928  
29 Mar 2008 /  #19
You put them in a jar and use them as a flashlight.

That's what we did as kids growing up in southern Tenn.
It was actually more fun to chase them, though :)
But we usually let them loose when we had to go inside for the night. :)

Once though, my little sister put some frogs in one of those toy purses that snap shut....and forgot it for a few days. Ewwwww!
Seanus 15 | 19,674  
14 Feb 2009 /  #20
Very original thread, nice one brethren

I must admit, I haven't seen any fireflies here yet but that could change.
Randal 1 | 577  
16 Feb 2009 /  #21
Plenty of lightning bugs in the U.S. They are quite cool to observe if you never have.

we use to smash them together and make glow paint

Ah, childhood memories! We used to use it like Indian war paint.
SeanBM 35 | 5,806  
14 Jun 2009 /  #22
When would be the best time, late summer ?

I saw them in June, south of Krakow in the Beskidy mountain range.

I saw fireflies a couple of nights ago.
scarbyirp  
4 Jul 2009 /  #23
Me too. I thought that they were orbs

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