Science Reading Warm-up

​Why and how does a firefly light?

A firefly is a soft-bodied beetle whose body gives off a glowing, flashing light. Fireflies, also called lightning bugs, use their lights to find mates. Each species of firefly has its own special signal. When a female sees a male fly by, flashing the signal of her species, she flashes her light to answer.

Most fireflies have light organs on the underside of the abdomen. The firefly is able to give off light because of the chemical process that takes place inside of the light organ.

Multiple Choice

What is another good title for this story?

• Lightning Bugs

• Lights

• Bugs That Fly

• Lady Bugs

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea of the story?

• A firefly is also called a lightning bug.

• A firefly flashes light with its special light organs in order to attract a mate.

• A chemical process causes the light.

Multiple Choice

The hind part of an insect's body

• species

• abdomen

• organ

• beetles

Multiple Choice

a body part made of specialized tissues that has a special purpose

• species

• beetles

• abdomen

• organ

Multiple Choice

a group of highly similar animals or plants that can mate only with each other

• species

• beetles

• abdomen

• organ

Multiple Choice

insects with biting mouth parts and hard front wings that cover the hind wings when these are folded

• species

• beetles

• abdomen

• organ

Multiple Choice

a firefly lights so it can see its way around at night

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Most fireflies have light organs on their wings.

• true

• false

Multiple Select

Check the two that apply.

Fireflies....

• are sometimes called lightning bugs.

• are flies that are attracted to house fires.

• are soft-bodied beetles that light up to attract mates.

• use their lights to see in the dark