STRICTLY BUSINESS: FIREFLIES CAN LIGHT UP YOUR POCKETBOOK

They're back!

During a recent evening, the dark summer landscape of our front yard was dotted with minuscule flashes of color as lightning bugs provided yellowish-green flashes of lights.

The lightning bugs -- scientifically known as Lampyridea, more commonly called "fireflies" -- are native to the United States and were once considered in some circles as a candidate for "national insect," and in some states as "state insect."

Fireflies are easily spotted.

The males use their lights to find mates, and each of the more than 100 species has its own light signals.

Scientific studies tell us that the male flies around flashing his message -- as many as one flash every six seconds -- until he spots a correctly coded response from a female firefly that has perched on the ground or in a bush.

This hunt can take time. Studies show the average male may need 7.2 nights to find a female that responds in the right code.

The little firefly -- a flat, quarter- to half-inch insect (really a beetle) -- is highly sought after by young children, who catch large numbers of the lightning bugs, placing them in a glass jar to watch them flicker.

Children aren't the only ones who want the Lampyridea. Scientists also want the lowly lightning bug.

The insects are highly sought after to give scientists with needed materials that provide a flicker on the horizon of medicine.

The scientists are looking for two chemicals used in medical research in such ailments as cancer, heart disease and genetic disorders.

Officials say that 100 fireflies will provide 1 milligram of concentrated light-emitting "luciferin" and "luciferase" chemicals. That 1 milligram can be used for as many as 100 analyses by scientists.

Long after some fireflies die, their glows can keep working for medical research. Extracts from the small firefly lanterns can be made to glow again when combined with the energy-rich molecule ATP, a substance found in every organism.

This is good news for young entrepreneurs who go about their ways of collecting lightning bugs for a fee paid by a St. Louis chemical company.

Sigma Chemical Co. has a special division -- Sigma Firefly Scientists Club, which involves Scout troops, church groups, 4-H clubs and hundreds of people.

The project not only provides fun for the youngsters, but a few bucks for their piggy banks.

The company pays a buck a hundred, with bonuses for big catches.

This may not sound like much, but look at the big scope of things. Hey, for 100,000 bugs, a Scout troop, youth club or senior citizens club can collect $1,000 plus a $300 bonus, which counts up to $1,300 in the treasury.

And, catching fireflies is the only means scientists have to obtain the chemicals needed for research. A two-year larval stage makes breeding fireflies impractical. Thus, chemical companies must count on human hunters.

And, no significant damage will be done to the firefly population, say Sigma spokesmen.

Fireflies have a life expectancy of five to 30 days.

The Sigma firefly program has been around more than 40 years. The annual firefly roundup has resulted in 2 million to 4 million lightning bugs a year from Missouri and Illinois.

More information concerning participation in the firefly program is available by calling 314-286-7750.

The annual roundup is open to individuals or groups.

Chemical company officials offer a couple of suggestions for catching fireflies.

Open areas are best for finding fireflies, they say. Fireflies are not natural city dwellers, but can be found in big numbers in open back yards. Many hunters use nets to capture fireflies in larger numbers.

A final note: There are about 1,900 species of the lightning bugs worldwide, with about 140 species native to the United States.

Not all members of the firefly family give off lights, but the larvae (young) of all species and eggs of some species emit light. The glowing larva and the flightless females of some species are often referred to as "glow worms."