Lampyridae

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For the TV series, see Firefly (TV series)
Fireflies
Lampyris noctiluca
Lampyris noctiluca
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Elateriformia
Superfamily: Elateroidea
Family: Lampyridae
Latreille, 1817
Genera
Curtos
Cyphonocerus
Drilaster
Ellychnia
Hotaria
Lampyris
Lucidina
Lucidota
Luciola- Japanese fireflies
Phausis
Photinus- common eastern firefly
Photuris
Pristolycus
Pyractomena
Pyrocoelia
Stenocladius
many others
Look up Lampyridae in Wikispecies, a directory of species

Lampyrideae is a family of beetles. These beetles are special in that most of them have the ability to produce light. Commonly, they are also called Fireflies or Lightning bugs. There are about 2000 different species. Most of them are nocturnal. They use flashes of light to attract mates.

Most species live in marshes or near water, because there their larvae have more than enough food.