The larvae live in the soil and feed on other ground dwellers such as snails, worms, or slugs. Fireflies start out as larvae, which, just like the adults, are nocturnal, which means they are active at night. This is the first way in which they differ from most beetles, which generally have hard elytra.
How can you tell that a firefly is a firefly?įireflies have some interesting anatomy the first being their soft, flexible forewings, which are called elytra. There are about 170 species of fireflies in the United States and Canada, and the ones we are most used to seeing in the North Country are Photinus pyralis, or the Common Eastern Firefly/Big Dipper Firefly. The Lampyridae family has over 2,000 described species of soft bodied beetles known as fireflies, glowworms, or lightning bugs, because of their bioluminescence ability. These fireflies (Lampyridae) are not made of fire nor are they flies! They’re actually a member of the beetle order, Coleoptera, the largest known order of organisms in the world with over 350,000 beetle species described and upwards of a million or more species still predicted to be undiscovered. Debris also harbors worms, slugs and other pests that fireflies feed on.If you look outside on a warm North Country summer night, you’re likely to see tiny blinking lights floating through the sky, disappearing and then reappearing a few feet away. Don’t be in a hurry to rake up leaves, as fallen plant debris creates an effective firefly habitat. Plant groundcovers or low-growing plants, which keep the ground moist and shady. Keep the environment around your house as dark as possible, as lights interfere with light signals and makes the firefly’s lights difficult for potential mates to see. Fireflies remain on the ground during the day – usually in long grass or shrubbery. If possible, leave a few areas unmowed, as perfectly manicured lawns aren’t good firefly habitat. Chemical fertilizers can harm fireflies and other beneficial insects.Īllow your lawn to grow a bit longer. Switch to natural fertilizers, such as manure or fish emulsion.
Chemical pesticides and herbicides are partly to blame for the bugs’ diminishing numbers. Learn about natural ways of controlling insects and weeds. It may be fun to catch lightning bugs in glass jars, but you’ll be doing them a huge favor if you allow them to complete their entire life cycle undisturbed. Fireflies are reportedly extremely nasty tasting and some species may be poisonous. The glow of firefly larvae (glowworms) serves a different purpose by frightening away potential predators. Each firefly species has its own distinctive flash patterns. The light produced by fireflies is a chemical reaction used to signal members of the opposite sex. Despite the name, they aren’t flies, but rather a type of winged beetle. Lightning Bug Informationįireflies are nocturnal insects.
#LIGHTNING BUGS EAT HOW TO#
Are you interested in discovering ways to attract lightning bugs? Just keep reading to find out how to get lightning bugs in your yard. Their diminishing numbers are due to use of toxic chemicals, destruction of wetlands, urban sprawl, clearing of forests, and light pollution. The bad news is that fireflies are disappearing all over the world. Even better, most species are predatory, feeding on the larvae of insect pests, as well as on slugs and snails. Attracting lightning bugs to your garden is definitely a good thing to do, as unlike many other less desirable bugs, these beneficial insects don’t bite, they aren’t poisonous, and they carry no diseases. Lightning bugs in the garden are a visual treat for people who live near lightning bug habitats – primarily damp areas east of the Rocky Mountains.
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