Why don't lightning bugs lite up after you ctach them and put them in a container?

Well, if you'd studied them, you'd know.The flashes lightning bugs give are mating calls/signals to opposite gender lightning bugs.Female lightning bugs give off a distinct pattern of flashing lights, to tell the male lightning bug that she is ready to mate, and when a male sees the flashes, he imitates them and goes over to mate with the female.