“God made the Fireflies light up the night, A flash and a flicker—His love is so bright!” Explore God’s warmest, wonder-filled season from A to Z. Build sandcastles, share picnics with others, and gaze at the starlit summer sky. And all the while, know that God delights in us and our summertime fun, too.

Two children catch fireflies on a summer night, putting them one by one into a jar until all ten are caught, and then they let them out to watch all ten fly away.

An informative, entertaining, and beautifully illustrated look at the beloved firefly For centuries, the beauty of fireflies has evoked wonder and delight. Yet for most of us, fireflies remain shrouded in mystery: How do fireflies make their light? What are they saying with their flashing? And what do fireflies look for in a mate? In Silent Sparks, noted biologist and firefly expert Sara Lewis dives into the fascinating world of fireflies and reveals the most up-to-date discoveries about these beloved insects. From the meadows of New England and the hills of the Great Smoky Mountains, to the rivers of Japan and mangrove forests of Malaysia, this beautifully illustrated and accessible book uncovers the remarkable, dramatic stories of birth, courtship, romance, sex, deceit, poison, and death among fireflies. The nearly two thousand species of fireflies worldwide have evolved in different ways—and while most mate through the aerial language of blinking lights, not all do. Lewis introduces us to fireflies that don't light up at all, relying on wind-borne perfumes to find mates, and we encounter glow-worm fireflies, whose plump, wingless females never fly. We go behind the scenes to meet inquisitive scientists who have dedicated their lives to understanding fireflies, and we learn about various modern threats including light pollution and habitat destruction. In the last section of the book, Lewis provides a field guide for North American fireflies, enabling us to identify them in our own backyards and neighborhoods. This concise, handy guide includes distinguishing features, habits, and range maps for the most commonly encountered fireflies, as well as a gear list. A passionate exploration of one of the world's most charismatic and admired insects, Silent Sparks will inspire us to reconnect with the natural world.

A young boy is proud of having caught a jar full of fireflies, which seems to him like owning a piece of moonlight. But as the light begins to dim, he realizes he must set the insects free or they will die.

This is the first comprehensive firefly guide for eastern and central North America ever published. It is written for all those who want to know more about the amazing world of lightning bugs and learn the secrets hidden in the flash patterns of the 75+ species found in the eastern and central U.S. and Canada. As an independent researcher working with numerous university teams, naturalist Lynn Frierson Faust, “The Lightning Bug Lady,” has spent decades tracking the behavior and researching the habitats of these fascinating creatures. Based on her twenty-five years of field work, this book is intended to increase understanding and appreciation of bioluminescent insects while igniting enthusiasm in a fun and informative way. Species accounts are coupled with historical background and literary epigraphs to engage and draw readers young and old into the world of these tiny sparklers. A chart documenting the flash patterns of the various species will aid in identification. Clear photos illustrate the insects’ distinguishing physical characteristics, while habitats, seasonality, and common names are provided in clear, easy-to-understand yet scientifically accurate language. The guide will be welcomed by everyone who wants to learn more about fireflies' and glow-worms' unique traits and about their fragile niche in the ecosystem. FEATURES Over 600 color photographsDetailed accounts and anatomical diagrams of 75+ species, as well as aids in distinguishing between similar speciesA first-of-its-kind flash-pattern chart that folds out on heavy-weight paper • Extensive scientific details written in an understandable and engaging wayColorful, common names—Twilight Bush Baby, Shadow Ghosts, and Snappy Syncs, and more—for easy species identification based on flash patternsTips on ideal sites and times of year for firefly watchingConservation-oriented approach

The two-volume set LNCS 8111 and LNCS 8112 constitute the papers presented at the 14th International Conference on Computer Aided Systems Theory, EUROCAST 2013, held in February 2013 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. The total of 131 papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected for inclusion in the books. The contributions are organized in topical sections on modelling biological systems; systems theory and applications; intelligent information processing; theory and applications of metaheuristic algorithms; model-based system design, verification and simulation; process modeling simulation and system optimization; mobile and autonomous transportation systems; computer vision, sensing, image processing and medical applications; computer-based methods and virtual reality for clinical and academic medicine; digital signal processing methods and applications; mechatronic systems, robotics and marine robots; mobile computing platforms and technologies; systems applications.

Authoriative illustrated reference on insects and spiders with contribuing essays by world-renowned scientists.