Lightning Bug Games for Kids

How Many Can You Catch?

• This is probably the most common lightning bug game out there. Grab a jar with some holes in the lid, have some of your friends do the same, and catch as many lightning bugs as you can in a given amount of time. Make sure not to let any bugs escape while catching new ones, but also make sure not to squash any of them when you close the jar. When you finish with this game, you can use the jars as flashlights and then let the bugs go free.

Attracting Males

• You can easily catch female fireflies, since those are the ones that are flashing near the ground. The male fireflies fly up higher and watch the ground for flashing signals. Challenge a friend to see which of you can attract male fireflies the fastest. To do this, find a grassy area with several fireflies in it. Watch the fireflies to see the flashing rhythm that they have, and try to mimic this rhythm with your flashlight. When you get it right, you'll suddenly find male fireflies flying straight at your flashlight, since they think it's a female.

Flashing Signals

• Although this game doesn't require actual lightning bugs, it can help kids understand how the bugs communicate with each other. You'll need a large group of kids and enough flashlights for each kid. Split the group into pairs, and give them a few minutes for each pair to discuss a signal, such as three short flashes, or a long flash followed by a short flash. Then split the pairs up, send them to opposite sides of a large grassy area after dark, and let them flash signals at each other and see which pair can find each other first.

Become a Scientist

• You can become part of a lightning bug network and help science research at the same time. You can sign up with the Museum of Science in Boston and send them data about the lightning bugs you see in your backyard. When you sign up, they request that you check your backyard for fireflies once a week during the summer and send them your observations. Even if you can't take responsibility for an entire summer, you can send in whatever information you have from the nights you are able to go out.