Flashing Fireflies
(Lightning Bugs)
The males of flashing fireflies fly through the air flashing their lanterns to attract a female. Each species has a unique "flash pattern" that can help with identification. Females may respond to the male with an answering flash or a glow, often from low-lying vegetation.
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You can usually identify a firefly down to the genus level. It can be challenging to get down to the next level, the species level.
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Photinus genus: short legs; size varies from very small to large; flash often appears yellow; some species fly early in the evening; often calm when caught.
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Photuris genus: long legs; hunched back; flash often appears greenish; flies later in the evening; flashes and moves erratically when caught.
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Pyractomena genus: some species fly early in spring; flash often appears orange or yellow; sometimes has central ridge on pronotum (head shield); goes dark when caught.
Day-Active Fireflies
Day-active, or dark, fireflies have no lanterns and they don't light up. They are active during the daytime, finding a mate through pheromones, or special chemicals, that the fireflies can detect in the air. So why are they fireflies if they don't light up? Even though the adults are dark, the larvae glow, and the glowing larvae is what makes them fireflies.
Glow Fireflies
Glow fireflies emit a steady glow instead of distinct flashes. Often the female glows steadily from the ground or low vegetation, while the male flies above. In some species, the male also glows, and in others the male is dark.