Stats

Lifespan

1-2 years

Size

Small

Diet

Carnivore

Activity

Crepuscular

Social

Solitary

Biome

Temperate grassland

Range

North America

Movement

Flight

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Toxins

Status

Common

About

This beetle lives in meadows and lawns across North America. It flashes a yellow light from its abdomen in a distinct J-shaped pattern.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg

   A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3. 3.
   subadult

   A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →
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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Coleoptera

Family

Lampyridae

Genus

Photinus

Species

Photinus pyralis