Firefly

Lampyridae family

Also called lightning bugs, fireflies are neither bugs nor flies: They are beetles. Fireflies use their light-producing organs to flash each other coded messages, all in the interest of finding a mate. The male signals as he flies; the female answers from her hiding place. Each species flashes its own special pattern.

Look For : A long, dark, soft-bodied beetle with flashing "tail" light at the tip of the abdomen. Wing covers are blackish, edged in yellow.

Length : 1/4-3/4".

Habitat : Meadows, woods, backyards, gardens.

Range : Widespread in eastern U.S. and southern Canada.