Now that the swarms of periodic cicadas are dying off, fireflies have emerged to grace our evenings and, of course, to entertain children. Soft-bodied beetles, fireflies are represented by more than 2000 species across the globe; their range includes Temperate, Subtropical and Tropical regions where they prefer relatively moist environments.
Due to the large variety of fireflies, it is difficult to generalize about their life cycle, which may span a couple of months or several years. In most species, eggs are laid on or within the soil; these hatch to release larvae which feed on a variety of invertebrates. Bioluminescence is present in most larvae species and is thought to warn predators that they are distasteful, poisonous or both.
Most species of firefly overwinter as larvae and then pupate. Adults emerge in late spring or summer and it is then that we notice them, twinkling in the darkness. Bioluminescence in adults is used both to attract mates and to scare off predators though the females of some species use it to attract males on which they feed; the adults of some species do not feed at all while other species feed on small insects or vegetation. Whatever their habits, they are certainly a more agreeable bunch than the cicadas.
