The
Lampyridae are a
family of
insects in the
beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, and commonly called
fireflies or
lightning bugs for their conspicuous use of
bioluminescence during twilight to attract mates or prey. Fireflies produce a "cold light", with no
infrared or
ultraviolet frequencies. This chemically produced light from the lower abdomen may be yellow, green, or pale red, with
wavelengths from 510 to 670 nanometers.