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NO. 015Flashing firefly illustrationIllustration · not shown at life size

Beetles / Insect

Flashing firefly

Photinus spp. · genus group

AdultAn everyday search

A tiny light blinks in the summer dusk. Fireflies are beetles, and their flashes help them find a mate.

Let’s look closer

Little clues

Three things to notice.

  1. Head tucked beneath a shield.

  2. Light organs beneath the abdomen.

  3. Flashes help attract a mate.

Out in the world

Where to look.

Around southeastern Wisconsin

Summer dusk in suitable yards.

When to look

Summer dusk, especially June and July.

Look closely. Leave your tiny neighbor where you found it.

A closer look

One clue is just the start.

The light is on the underside of the belly. Different kinds of fireflies use different flash patterns.

A special find can be hard to spot without being biologically rare. Encounters depend on season and habitat.

Keep exploring

Meet the neighbors.

For curious grownups, too

Read a little further.

Original summaries, with references for deeper reading.