Page 76 - A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife
P. 76
efly
(Lampyridae)
Description Distribution and Habitat
Fireflies are actually beetles. Fireflies can be seen in meadows
They tend to be brown and and open woods. They are found in
have a soft body with leathery all five physiographic provinces.
front wings. The males and
females attract each other Role in Food Web
with a flashing green light,
known as bioluminescence, Firefly larvae are carnivores and eat
which occurs when living snails, slugs, other fireflies, aphids,
organisms convert chemical mites and soft-bodied insects.
energy into light. Firefly eggs Adults only live long enough to
and larvae also glow. reproduce and usually do not eat at
all, although they sometimes drink
The flashing light acts as a language nectar. Predators include Spring
where different flashes act as coded Peepers, toads, salamanders, skinks,
signals. For example, some male birds, spiders, moles and bats.
fireflies use blinking patterns to help
attract potential mates. If a female is
interested, she flashes back.
r 72 r
(Lampyridae)
Description Distribution and Habitat
Fireflies are actually beetles. Fireflies can be seen in meadows
They tend to be brown and and open woods. They are found in
have a soft body with leathery all five physiographic provinces.
front wings. The males and
females attract each other Role in Food Web
with a flashing green light,
known as bioluminescence, Firefly larvae are carnivores and eat
which occurs when living snails, slugs, other fireflies, aphids,
organisms convert chemical mites and soft-bodied insects.
energy into light. Firefly eggs Adults only live long enough to
and larvae also glow. reproduce and usually do not eat at
all, although they sometimes drink
The flashing light acts as a language nectar. Predators include Spring
where different flashes act as coded Peepers, toads, salamanders, skinks,
signals. For example, some male birds, spiders, moles and bats.
fireflies use blinking patterns to help
attract potential mates. If a female is
interested, she flashes back.
r 72 r
