Key Information
Fireflies
| Other Names | Lightning bugs, glowworms |
| Species | Over 2,000 species |
| Diet | Carnivores and Herbivores |
| Length | Up to 1 inch |
| Lifespan | Varies |
| Classification | Insecta > Polyphaga > Elateroidea |
| Conservation Status | Various, some threatened |
| Habitat | Temperate and tropical climates |
Learning Point
- Fireflies are a form of beetle that produces a chemical light that they can use to communicate to each other, creating a beautiful display that during the evening or night time.
Project
- Draw a picture of fireflies at night.
- Overview
- X-Ray
Media
Location
| Places | Worldwide |
Fun Facts
- The larvae of fireflies glow to warn predators that they are taste horrible!
- Some fireflies live up to two years or more.
- Female Photuris fireflies mimic the flash pattern of Photinus fireflies to trap their males as prey.
- Some adults fireflies, like the European glow-worm, have no mouth, and emerge only to mate and lay eggs before dying.
- The oldest known fossil firefly is Protoluciola from the end of the Cretaceous, found in Burmese amber in Myanmar.
Past Lessons
| 5 | June 29, 2026 | (North America) |