The Firefly, Another Example of Evolution - Page 2 of 3
We continue with our saga of evolution ... newcomers can catch up by reviewing the archives for page 1
Once at home, Billie reported his findings. Immediately Leo revised his plan. He called the family and advised them all to slow down when flying at night. Trees had become a greater danger to the speed demons than the daytime creatures. Even with their level of intelligence, this had escaped their thoughts so, in addition to his directives, Leo added another fail safe device. He had heard the neanderthals giving warnings to their families, “Don’t jump off cliffs cuz others do” and “Don’t sit in the fire” and other similar deeply insightful sayings of the immensely intelligent creatures.
Leo began making signs and posting them on trees, "When Flying Avoid Hitting Trees." He was quite proud of his warnings, thinking to himself he was equal to human intelligence.
He also instituted a new family chore, Sign Sanitation. Sign Sanitation, or the SS as they called themselves were responsible cleaning the remains of dead flies from the signs. Many were female with only half their makeup applied. But many were also male. The males were usually found with their heads smashed on one side as they were looking in the direction of the females doing their makeup.
Yet, Leo decided to stick to the original plan. Time and reputation were invested so it had to be made to work regardless of the consequences. Leo was a leading edge thinker, much like those today in politics and big business.
Anyway, after several days, they found the number of family members missing increased at an even greater level. What was going on here? So Leo called on Billie again.
By this time, Billie had gotten married and had maggots of his own, but family had to be protected. So out he went that night. But he didn’t have to go far. Landing on the first tree, he just sat and wrung his hands and waited. It didn’t take long to see the danger.
Cousin Harry Horse and his family were out for a short flight when all of a sudden, bam, Harry was gone. Then his wife. Then most of his children. All were gone in a moment of frenzied flight about an old corn cob.
Harry and his family had adhered to the family order not too fly to fast. That made them perfect targets for the quick flying bats that lived in the dark reaches of the forest. They slept by day but became hunters at night. Now Billie understood the new threat. Bats were murderers and responsible for a lot of Billie’s missing kin folk.
Once the bat feeding frenzy subsided, Billie headed back to the manure pile where the family had taken refuge of late, and reported in. Leo was beside himself. What could they do? Predators were everywhere at all times of the day or night.
Another family and clan conference was called which included as many cousins as were available. And the oldest member of another clan, Felix Fruit, also made the conference.
Felix was in his sunset days, being about 35 days of age, and his life experiences were considered to be invaluable.
Felix proposed a new plan. Half of the family would go back to the daytime hours; the other half would continue on the night schedule.
Those that resumed the daytime schedule would have to redefine their habitat. Felix suggested the day timers relocate closer to one of the newer species newly evolved from the sludge pond. He called them “man.” They were similar to the Neanderthals, just not as intelligent.
Felix reasoning was threefold; 1) man was wasteful leaving much more food reserves for the flies and 2) man was slower in reaction time than other animals and 3) man seldom learned from his mistakes which presented a certain level of security for fly safety as their thinking was a bit more advanced. Living near them would not require a change their lifestyle.
As to the night fliers, they would continue to fly slower but more cautiously, keeping away from known bat haunts. They would also move closer to man's settlements for the above reasons. And they would all form a committee called “flies on the wall” who would develop a new strategy of night flight.
The plan was accepted though the night fliers would have to “wing it” until this new strategy was developed.
Days passed, and so did Leo, Felix and Billie. But the work continued with the next generation, and the next until a young genius, a Thick-Headed fly named Connor Conopidae discovered the formula for bioluminescence by combining the pollen of several plants and flowers along with other ingredients he found around man's garbage. The formula was discovered by accident while working on another project he called the “wheel.”
But, though Connor was a genius by all accounts, he was one of the ugliest flies ever born. As such, he had nothing to offer the lady flies. No matter what he did, they avoided him like the plague, leaving him a very lonely fly. But he did not give up. And it was this driving need for a companion that drove his studies and brought Connor to his great discovery of bioluminescence or self-emitting light.
Connor flew with all speed with this discovery to Sid Screwworm, the new clan leader. Of course, Sid was not convinced by Connor’s lab notes and diagrams. He wanted to see it in action, so Connor complied.