A rather simple circuit can sometimes provide a great deal of flexibility, all provided by a microcontroller and a PC that can communicate with the microcontroller.

This microcontroller-based unit can "play" flash patterns for attracting fireflies.  The patterns can be designed on a PC: time for a single flash; timing for a burst of flashes, intensity, timing for repeated bursts, etc.

Project with Dennis Buschman, Kansas State University.