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cover of episode Lampyridology (FIREFLIES) aka Sparklebuttology Updated Encore with Sara Lewis

Lampyridology (FIREFLIES) aka Sparklebuttology Updated Encore with Sara Lewis

2025/7/2
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Ologies with Alie Ward
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Sarah Lewis: 我对萤火虫情有独钟，即使是不喜欢昆虫的人也往往会被它们吸引。我一直在社交媒体上努力普及萤火虫的知识，但很多人甚至不相信它们真实存在，认为它们只是神话故事里的生物。萤火虫种类繁多，行为和生活方式各异，我们对它们的研究也一直在进行。我第一次见到萤火虫时，被它们从草地升起，在空中飞舞的景象所震撼，这激发了我对它们的好奇心。我们研究萤火虫的性生活和求偶行为，发现它们闪光的主要目的是为了寻找配偶，其中包含微妙的信息。雌性萤火虫对配偶的选择非常挑剔，雄性会给雌性提供一份礼物，称为“婚 선물”。总的来说，我很幸运能把我的科学生涯奉献给研究这样一种奇妙的动物，并向人们讲述它们的故事。

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The episode begins with an introduction to the topic of fireflies, also known as lightning bugs or sparkle butts. Dr. Sara Lewis, a firefly expert, is introduced as the guest, and the episode's focus on firefly biology, behavior, and conservation is highlighted.
  • Fireflies are beetles, not flies or true bugs.
  • There are over 2000 species of fireflies.
  • Many myths surround fireflies, including their existence and diversity.

Shownotes Transcript

Let’s light up your life and butt. World-renowned firefly expert Dr. Sara Lewis of Tufts University gives us some updates to her 2021 episode, sharing her love of a bug that many think is merely mythological. Learn how these tiny animals illuminate the night, the dos and don’ts of firefly observation, how to take good firefly photos, femme fatales, pink glowworms, secret languages, artificial lights, what’s up with their population numbers, why Western states can chill out with their lightning bug envy, and how you can ensure the world stays aglow with these beloved bugs. Also: nuptial gifts, both human and lampyridological.

Visit Dr. Sara Lewis’s website) and follow her on Threads)

Buy her book, Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies)!

A donation went to Fireflyers International)

More episode sources and links)

Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes)

Other episodes you may enjoy: Entomology (INSECTS)), Acaropathology (TICKS & LYME DISEASE)), Forest Entomology (CREEPY CRAWLIES)), Odonatology (DRAGONFLIES)), Native Melittology (INDIGENOUS BEES)), Lepidopterology (BUTTERFLIES)), Cicadology (CICADAS)), Dipterology (FLIES)), Behavioral Ecology (REPRODUCTIVE TRADEOFFS))

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Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper) of MindJam Media, Steven Ray Morris), Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions) and Jake Chaffee)

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer)

Theme song by Nick Thorburn