RANGE: U.S. except for northwest, southeastern Canada
FOOD: Larvae eat slugs, snails, worms,
insects; adult food not
known
PREDATORS: Humans - collectors with jars!
HABITAT: Swamps, moist areas in woods, parks, yards
Photo: J. E. Lloyd
DESCRIPTION
Fireflies are, in fact, beetles not flies. They are
famous for their ability to light up a summer night.
Only male fireflies light up. Scientists think that
the lights are useful for two reasons. They help them find their mates and they flash a
warning to hungry birds to stay away.
Fireflies are one of the few kinds of bugs that
birds avoid eating. The chemical which makes them glow tastes bad and is poisonous.
U.S. except for
