Lampyris noctiluca

Lampyris noctiluca
Male
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Lampyridae
Subfamily:	Lampyrinae
Tribe:	Lampyrini
Genus:	Lampyris
Species:	L. noctiluca
Binomial name
Lampyris noctiluca (Linnaeus, 1767)
Synonyms
Cantharis noctiluca Linnaeus, 1767 Lampyris bellieri Reiche, 1858 Lampyris carreti Olivier, 1895 Lampyris longipennis Motschulsky, 1853 [citation needed] Lampyris minor Olivier, 1901 Lampyris obscurella Motschulsky, 1853 Lampyris parvicollis Olivier, 1901 Lampyris sibirica Gebler, 1847 Lampyris submucronata Rey, 1891 Lampyris thoracica Motschulsky, 1853

Lampyris noctiluca,^[2] the common glow-worm of Europe (see also "glowworm"), is the type species of beetle in the genus Lampyris and the family Lampyridae.

Lampyris noctiluca presents a conspicuous sexual dimorphism. The males are winged, with brown elytra, a clearer pronotum and a large brown spot in the middle, while females are larviform, wings are missing and they are often twice the size of the males (up to 25 millimetres or 1 inch in length).

These beetles use their bioluminescence to attract mates. The adult females are mostly famed for their glow, although all stages of their life cycle are capable of glowing.

In Britain, this species is fairly common compared to its cousin Phosphaenus hemipterus – the lesser glow worm – which is very rare.^{[citation needed]}

The Lampyris noctiluca, commonly referred to as a glow worm, belongs to the Lampyridae family, which is Greek for "shining ones," and includes species known as fireflies or lightning bugs. Contrary to its name, it is not worm-like, but a beetle. These beetles are typically the most active at night and spend their day under debris, or in the ground. The larvae are also nocturnal and rarely seen — only coming out when the conditions are right in the months of April through October. The adult stage is much shorter than the larvae stage but they are much easier to spot then as they glow for a few hours and only stop glowing after mating.