firefly,Lampyridaealso called Lightning Bug, any of the nocturnal luminous insects of the beetle family Lampyridae (order Coleoptera), consisting of about 1,900 species that inhabit tropical and temperate regions. The common glowworm (Lampyris noctiluca) is a member of this family (see glowworm).Fireflies are some 2,000 species of beetles (insect order Coleoptera) found in most tropical and temperate regions that have special light-producing organs on the underside of the abdomen. Most fireflies are nocturnal, although some species are diurnal. They are soft-bodied beetles that range from 5 to 25 millimetres mm (up to 1 inch) in length, and have special light organs on the underside of the abdomen. The flattened, dark brown or black body is often marked with orange or yellow. Some adult fireflies do not eat; others , whereas many feed on pollen and nectar. In a few species females are predatory on males of other firefly species. Both sexes are usually are winged and luminous, although in some species only one sex has the light-producing organ. Females lacking wings and resembling the long, flat larvae are commonly referred to as glowworms. The larvae , are sometimes luminescent before they hatch, . Larvae live on the ground and feed on snails and slugs . They inject by injecting a fluid into their prey and then withdraw withdrawing the partly digested matter through hollow mouthparts. The common glowworm (Lampyris noctiluca) is a member of this family (see glowworm).

Most fireflies produce short, rhythmic flashes in a pattern characteristic of the species; the . The rhythmic flash pattern is part of a signal system that brings the sexes together. Both the rate of flashing and the amount of time before the female’s response to the male are important. Some authorities feel that the flashing is also a protective mechanism, reminding predators of the firefly’s bitter taste. Some frogs, however, However, some frogs eat such large numbers of fireflies that they themselves glow.

Firefly light is produced under nervous control within special cells (photocytes) richly supplied with air tubes (tracheae). Firefly light is a cold light with approximately 100 percent of the energy given off as light and only a minute amount of heat. Only light in the visible spectrum is emitted. Members Some tropical members of the coleopteran family Elateridae are also called fireflies (see click beetle).