| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
| Fireflies | ||||||||||
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SEM image of a firefly | ||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||
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| Genera | ||||||||||
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Curtos Cyphonocerus Drilaster Ellychnia Hotaria Lampyris Lucidina Luciola - (Japanese fireflies) Photinus - (common eastern firefly) Photuris Pristolycus Pyractomena Pyrocoelia Stenocladius |
The flashing and flying pattern that fireflies use is distinct for each species.
Many species of lampyrid beetles do not glow as adults, but they all glow as larvae. The larvae of fireflies are generally known as glowworms (but see Phengodidae). The function of glowing in the larvae is the subject of speculation, since it is clearly not for mating. It may be protective since the usual conformation is two eye-spot like glowing patches.
There are more than 2000 species of firefly, found in temperate and tropical environments around the world.