The common eastern firefly, or North American firefly, ranges throughout the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. ("Firefly", 2001)
Larvae of the common eastern firefly most often inhabit moist places such as on the ground, under bark, and near streams. Adult fireflies can be found from late spring to early fall in meadows, woodland edges, and near streams. (Milne and Milne, 1980)
The common eastern firefly is, in fact, not a fly, but a type of beetle. The average adult is dark brown and 10-14 mm long. Like all insects, it has a hard exoskeleton, six jointed legs, two antennae, compound eyes, and a body divided into three parts head, thorax, and abdomen). Its head has a rounded cover outlined in yellow and accented with two orange spots.also has two pairs of wings. The first pair, the elytra, form a cover over the second pair and is dark brown with narrow yellow side margins. Only males use the second pair for flying; females usually have short wings, and do not fly. The last segment of the abdomen is the section that lights up, flashing bright yellow-green.
Common eastern firefly larvae are characterized by six legs, a pair of antennae, and a flattened segmented abdomen. Upon emerging from the egg they are generally about 1.6 mm in length. By the end of its larval stage it will have grown to about 10.3 mm. Firefly larvae are often referred to as "glow worms" because, like the adults, they emit a glow of light. ("Firefly or Lightning Bug: Photinus pyralis", 1999; Arnett, 1985; Grzimek, 1972; Milne and Milne, 1980; Tweit, 1999)
Firefly eggs, which also emit a slight glow, hatch after four weeks into flightless larvae, the longest stage of the firefly life cycle. Larvae live one to two years and can be seen glowing on damp ground and near streams. After passing through the larval stage, the developing firefly moves into chambers in the moist soil and pupates. While pupating, it undergoes metamorphosis, emerging from the pupa as an adult. ("Firefly or Lightning Bug: Photinus pyralis", 1999; "Firefly", 2001; Milne and Milne, 1980; Pesson, 1959)
Fireflies use specific flashing signals to find a mate. Females wait on the ground for passing males to flash their signal, and then answer with their own specific signal. It is this communication that allows the male to find a female with whom he mates. ("Firefly or Lightning Bug: Photinus pyralis", 1999; "Firefly", 2001; Milne and Milne, 1980; Pesson, 1959)
Fireflies use specific flashing signals to find a mate. Females wait on the ground for passing males to flash their signal, and then answer with their own specific signal. It is this communication that allows the male to find a female with whom he mates. This dating game occurs in summer and early fall, and the female generally lays about 500 eggs on damp soil during this time of year. ("Firefly or Lightning Bug: Photinus pyralis", 1999; "Firefly", 2001; Milne and Milne, 1980; Pesson, 1959)
Firefly larvae spend winter and early spring burrowed into the soil. In late spring, they emerge to feed. Adult fireflies use their glow to both ward off predators and attract mates. It was originally thought that the light signals of the firefly would attract predators; however, the common eastern firefly contains a steroid that is poisonous, and this deters potential predators such as birds and frogs.
The light signal benefits ("Firefly or Lightning Bug: Photinus pyralis", 1999; "Firefly", 2001; Grzimek, 1972; Tweit, 1999)most during mating. At dusk males take flight while females wait perched on the ground or in bushes. While in flight, the male emits, on average, a 0.3 second flash every 5.5 seconds. This particular signalling sequence is specific to ; however, it is the females's response that enables the male common eastern firefly to find a mate of the same species. The female flashes a response approximately two seconds later, a specific and crucial interval for this firefly species. Once the male recognizes the female , it flies down to the ground where mating takes place.
Both adult and larval Phorinua pyralis are carnivorous. They feed on other insects (including other fireflies), earthworms, and snails. When feeding, they inject poison to immobilize and liquefy their prey. This allows the fireflies or larvae to suck up their meal. ("Firefly or Lightning Bug: Photinus pyralis", 1999)
An interesting predator of Photuris pyralis. This firefly mimics the signal of the female and lures male that are expecting to mate. However, when the male common eastern firefly reaches this mimicking species, he quickly becomes the female predator's meal. (Milne and Milne, 1980)is the female
The chemical utilized by the common eastern firefly for bioluminescence is a complex organic compound, luciferase. Fireflies have recently been harvested by the biochemical industry for this important compound. Researchers discovered a technique to splice the gene containing luciferase into the DNA of other plants and animals. They use this in tracing the inheritance of a particular disease-resistant gene by splicing the bioluminescence gene into the disease-resistant gene in a parent plant or animal. The disease-resistant gene can then be traced in the offspring, because if it is inherited, it will glow. ("Firefly or Lightning Bug: Photinus pyralis", 1999; Tweit, 1999)
There is no known negative economic importance for humans.
This species does not require any special status.
is the most common of 1900 species of fireflies.
The firefly produces light in the presence of oxygen, magnesium, and adenosine triphosphate by using an enzyme, luciferase, to oxidize a complex organic compound, luciferin. The light produced is often referred to as "cold light" because almost all the energy is released in the form of light and very little is wasted as heat. The wavelength range of this light spans from 520-620nm, and its brightness reaches 1/40 that of a candle. This bright light is what attracts most of the common eastern firefly's popularity. ("Firefly or Lightning Bug: Photinus pyralis", 1999; "Firefly", 2001; Arnett, 1985; Grzimek, 1972; Milne and Milne, 1980)
Sara Diamond (editor), Animal Diversity Web.
Jenny McKenzie (author), Southwestern University, Stephanie Fabritius (editor), Southwestern University.
living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south as the highlands of central Mexico.
living in landscapes dominated by human agriculture.
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
an animal that mainly eats meat
a substance used for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease
animals which must use heat acquired from the environment and behavioral adaptations to regulate body temperature
union of egg and spermatozoan
forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.
having a body temperature that fluctuates with that of the immediate environment; having no mechanism or a poorly developed mechanism for regulating internal body temperature.
An animal that eats mainly insects or spiders.
fertilization takes place within the female's body
A large change in the shape or structure of an animal that happens as the animal grows. In insects, "incomplete metamorphosis" is when young animals are similar to adults and change gradually into the adult form, and "complete metamorphosis" is when there is a profound change between larval and adult forms. Butterflies have complete metamorphosis, grasshoppers have incomplete metamorphosis.
eats mollusks, members of Phylum Mollusca
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
active during the night
reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body.
generates and uses light to communicate
the kind of polygamy in which a female pairs with several males, each of which also pairs with several different females.
Referring to something living or located adjacent to a waterbody (usually, but not always, a river or stream).
breeding is confined to a particular season
offspring are all produced in a single group (litter, clutch, etc.), after which the parent usually dies. Semelparous organisms often only live through a single season/year (or other periodic change in conditions) but may live for many seasons. In both cases reproduction occurs as a single investment of energy in offspring, with no future chance for investment in reproduction.
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
living in residential areas on the outskirts of large cities or towns.
that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).
Living on the ground.
A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.
A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.
A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.
uses sight to communicate
1999. "Firefly or Lightning Bug: Photinus pyralis" (On-line). Accessed April 12, 2001 at http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/beetles/Fireflyprintout.html.
2001. Firefly. Pp. 134 in World Book. Chicago: World Book Incorporated.
Arnett, R. 1985. American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of North America and Mexico. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.
Grzimek, D. 1972. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.
Milne, L., M. Milne. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders. New York: Chanticleir Press.
Pesson, P. 1959. The World of Insects. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company.
Tweit, S. 1999. Dance of the Fireflies. Audubon, 101, Issue 4: 16,28-31.