Interesting Facts About Firefly Insects

Proper Name

• Fireflies fall under the classification of Lampyridae in the order of Coleoptera, which comprises the winged beetles. Thousands of species exist, but they are categorized in five main sub-families. Photurinae is the sub-family most likely to be seen in North America.

Lighting Up

• Fireflies are the only insects capable of producing light on their abdomens. Some other species, like click beetles, can do it on other parts of their bodies. This process, bioluminescence, occurs when the digestive enzymes luciferase and luciferin combine with ATP, another natural substance in the firefly. The combination triggers a reaction that makes the heat-resistant luciferase glow.

Highly Efficient

• Firefly.org says all of the insect's energy is manifest as light. By comparison, a common incandescent light bulb only emits 10 percent of its energy in light, and a fluorescent bulb 90 percent. The light produced by the insects is "cold" because it produces no heat.

Mates and Food

• The primary purpose of the firefly light is to attract mates. Sometimes, only the female sends out light, but in most species both genders will shine. The lights also attract potential food to the firefly. Fireflies eat other fireflies as well as other insects. The larvae preys on worms and snails.

Bitter Blood

• Bad taste is a key defensive trait of the firefly. Firefly.org says the insects release foul-tasting drops into their predators through reflexive bleeding. This "bitter blood" has trained enemies not to bite any other fireflies. The blood can also be poisonous to some animals. Fireflies should never be fed to lizards or other reptiles.

Light Sensitive

• Despite the name, fireflies are not attracted to fire or anything that emits light itself. Its signals are far less effective in the presence of a competing light source. Most of the time, the bugs will stay on the ground when confronted with porch lights or even a full moon.