They are found all over the world in warm, humid places or in drier places after a rain. In the U.S. they are found only in the East as far west as Kansas.
They live in fields, yards and open woodlands.
They have brown wings with yellow edges. There is a red plate behind their head with a black spot in the center. Last section of abdomen lights up to attract a mate.
Their tail end lights on summer nights to attract a mate.
They eat insects, worms, and snails.
The female lays eggs in the soil that hatch 4 weeks later.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Family: Lampyridae
Genus: Photinus
Species: P. pyralis
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Amsel, Sheri. "Firefly" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. March 28, 2024
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