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How to Chase Fireflies

There are few sights as beautiful as a field full of fireflies illuminating the night. These remarkable insects use what is known as bioluminescence in order to attract a mate. It's tough to find a person that isn't also attracted to the sight, so chasing fireflies is a relaxing activity that everyone should try at least once. These insects are not very fast compared to flies or bees, so chasing one down and catching one is a feasible task.

Instructions

- 1
  Locate an area with a large concentration of fireflies. To have the best chance of chasing one down, the more you can find grouped together, the better.
- 2
  Notice the way the fireflies fly in the group. Observing group behavior of these beetles can be very interesting and can help you catch one.
- 3
  Follow one firefly with your eyes as long as possible, observing its flight patterns. When you can no longer follow one, find another. This will help you understand how they move before you start your chase.
- 4
  Follow calmly after the firefly of your choosing until you are within capturing range.
- 5
  Place the fingers of one hand across the fingers of the other, with the heels of your hands together to form an open pocket.
- 6
  Move this pocket around a firefly and gently close your hands around it.
- 7
  Open your hands back up once the firefly has landed on your hand, and allow it to walk around until it chooses to fly on.

Insects & Science