Lightning Bugs

Description Beetle 3 body segments – Head, Thorax, Abdomen Winged – Fore winged cover abdomen; hind wing membranous – Wings found on 2 nd and 3 rd thoracic segment Chewing mouthparts – Mouth appendages are exposed – Mandibles w/2 points of articulation Grows up to 1 inch long Light producing organ located beneath abdomen

Classification Domain- Eukaryota Kingdom- Animala Phylum- Arthropda Subphylum- Hexapodo Class- Insecta Sumclass- Ptergota Order- Coleoptera Family- Lampyridae

Geographic Range &Habitat Most live in habitats that are warm and humid, but some species can be found in temperate as well as arid areas.

Life History The rate the flash of occurs from the light organ attracts mates. A few days after mating, the females lays her eggs in rotting wood, forest litter and on edge of ponds and streams. 3-4 weeks later larvae emerge Larvae are predatorily feeding on earth worms, snails, and slugs, they feed throughout summer. They then burrow in the soil for the winter, pupate in the spring, and appear as adults the next summer.

Life history continues…. Little is known concerning adult feeding habits but the mouth parts suggest predatorily habits. – Though the mouth parts suggest predatorily habits, Some scientist believe these beetles feed on plant nectar. Most adults maintain residence near their area they hatch at.

Light Organ McElroy discovered this reaction occurring within the organ in 1951 Scientist are unsure of how the production of light occurs but theorize it has to controlling the amount oxygen within the organ. This theory is known as the “Oxygen Control Theory“.

References ls/bugs/firefly/ ls/bugs/firefly/ state.edu/projects/FFiles/frfact.html state.edu/projects/FFiles/frfact.html y/development.jpg y/development.jpg