Firefly Reference Libraries

The soldier beetles (Cantharidae) are relatively soft-bodied, straight-sided beetles. They are closely related to the Lampyridae, or firefly family. Some are important predators of aphids during their brief adulthood.

Fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, are nocturnal, luminous beetles of the family Lampyridae. These names come from the fact that some species as adults emit flashes of light to attract mates, using special light-emitting organs in the abdomen. The enzyme luciferase acts on luciferin to stimulate light emission. This reaction is of scientific interest, and genes coding for these substances...

Photuris is a genus of "fireflies" (actually beetles in the family Lampyridae).