fireflies

(Family Lampyridae)

Overview
firefly (Family Lampyridae)
Photo by Alfredo Colon
 
 

Lampyridae is the family that includes fireflies, also called glow worms or lightning bugs. There are about 2,200 described species worldwide, about 170 species in North America north of Mexico, and at least 19 species in Minnesota.

Most adults and all larvae produce light by an efficient chemical process that gives off almost no heat. In most species, flashing is the means by which the male, flashing in flight, finds a female of the same species, flashing on the ground.

     
 

Larvae prey on small insects, insect larvae, snails, and slugs. Adults of most species do not feed.

 
     
 
Description
 
 

Adults are soft-bodied, elongated, and flattened. Most are brown or black with light markings. They have nearly parallel sides and rounded ends. The exoskeletal plate covering the thorax (pronotum) is nearly as wide at the base as the forewings (elytra). The front of the pronotum is extended forward and completely covers the head, though the head may be extended beyond it. The elytra are leathery and loosely cover the body. The last 2 or 3 abdominal segments are often luminescent. The last part of the leg (tarsus), corresponding to the foot, has 5 segments.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

24, 27, 29, 30, 82.

 
  11/27/2020      
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Coleoptera (beetles)  
 

Suborder

Polyphaga (water, rove, scarab, long-horned, leaf, and snout beetles)  
 

Infraorder

Elateriformia  
 

Superfamily

Elateroidea (click, firefy, and soldier beetles)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

Subfamily Amydetinae

Subfamily Cyphonocerinae

Subfamily Lampyrinae (typical fireflies)

Subfamily Luciolinae

Subfamily Ototretinae

Subfamily Photurinae

Subfamily Pterotinae

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

fireflies

glow worms

lightning bugs

lightningbugs

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Elytra

The hardened or leathery forewings of beetles used to protect the fragile hindwings, which are used for flying. Singular: elytron.

 

Pronotum

The exoskeletal plate on the upper side of the first segment of the thorax of an insect.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Nanc

 
  Found a firefly on the bottom of a zucchini that was growing in my straw bale garden. It was probably trying to get some shade & stay cool on this hot, muggy day.   firefly (Family Lampyridae)  
           
        firefly (Family Lampyridae)  
 

Alfredo Colon

 
    firefly (Family Lampyridae)   firefly (Family Lampyridae)  
           
    firefly (Family Lampyridae)      
           
 
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Other Videos
 
  Watch: Fireflies Glowing in Sync to Attract Mates | National Geographic
National Geographic
 
   
 
About

Sep 4, 2016

Each year in late spring the Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosts a special light show, thanks to a species of beetle native to the region. These are the synchronous fireflies, known for coordinating their flashes into bursts that ripple through a group of the insects. As with other fireflies, their yellowish glow helps potential mates find one another.

 
  Meet the Lampyridae
Siouxsie Wiles
 
   
 
About

Dec 7, 2011

Learn a little about the amazing firefly and how it is helping scientists in the battle against some of the world's nastiest microbes.

 
       

 

Camcorder

 
 
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  Nanc
7/12/2021

Location: Brooklyn Park, Mn

Found a firefly on the bottom of a zucchini that was growing in my straw bale garden. It was probably trying to get some shade & stay cool on this hot, muggy day.

firefly (Family Lampyridae)  
  Alfredo Colon
8/7/2019

Location: Woodbury, MN

firefly (Family Lampyridae)  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

 

 

 

 

Binoculars


Created: 11/27/2020

Last Updated:

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