INSPIRING JAMAICA - June nights aglow: The extraordinary insect kingdom

As the first heavy rains of summer soak the Jamaican landscape, a remarkable transformation unfolds across our mountains, forests, and gardens. June signals the peak season for some of the island’s most spectacular insects, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Their emergence is a vivid reminder that Jamaica is not only a land of beautiful beaches and rich culture, but also one of the Caribbean’s greatest treasures of biodiversity.

Scientists often describe Jamaica as an ‘island of islands’. Our rugged limestone valleys, deep caves, and isolated mountain peaks have created natural barriers that allowed countless species to evolve independently over millions of years. The result is an astonishing number of endemic plants and animals, including thousands of unique insects.

Among the most enchanting are the beloved ‘Blinkies’ and ‘Peeny-Wallies’, which illuminate humid June evenings with their magical glow. Jamaica is considered a global hotspot for bioluminescent beetles, with more than 50 endemic species recorded. The Peeny-Wally (Pyrophorus plagiophthalamus) is a large click beetle found only in Jamaica. It carries two brilliant green lights near its head and a hidden orange lantern beneath its body. Equally captivating are the Blinkies, our native fireflies, which communicate through precise flashing patterns. Each species uses its own unique light signal, a natural Morse code that helps individuals find suitable mates in the darkness of the forest.

June is also one of the most anticipated flight periods for the legendary Homerus Swallowtail (Papilio homerus), the largest butterfly in the Western Hemisphere. With a wingspan reaching nearly six inches, this magnificent insect survives only in Jamaica’s remaining rainforests, particularly within the Blue Mountains and Cockpit Country. Following the May rains, adults emerge to feed and lay eggs on the fresh leaves of the endemic Hernandia tree, continuing a life cycle that has fascinated naturalists for generations.

The season also brings Jamaica’s own varieties of ‘June Bugs’. While North Americans are familiar with brown scarab beetles, our tropical forests produce a dazzling array of insects, including metallic-green cicadas and long-horned beetles that become especially active during warm, humid nights.

Our mountains and forests are living works of art, carved by the hands of nature. Take time this month to walk through a garden, listen to the songs of insects, and marvel at the lights dancing in the darkness. Nature offers a therapy that brings peace, insight, and inspiration. Just as Jamaica’s endemic fireflies pierce the darkness with their gentle glow, so too can the inner light of resilience, hope, and faith guide us through our darkest moments and illuminate the path ahead.

Contributed by Dr Lorenzo Gordon, a diabetologist, internal medicine consultant, biochemist, and a history and heritage enthusiast. Send feedback to inspiring876@gmail.com.