Common eastern firefly

Open fields, meadows, parks, and suburban gardens across North America, typically near moist areas or high grass.

Larvae are predatory, eating snails and slugs in the soil. Adults may feed on pollen or nectar, or not at all during their short lifespan.

Crepuscular and nocturnal insects famous for bioluminescence used to attract mates; they use specific flashing patterns near dusk and early night.

Generally beneficial as they are efficient predators of garden pests like slugs. They contain lucibufagins, which are toxic to some predators, but they are harmless to humans.