Lightning bugs, also known as fireflies, are a beloved sign of summer People enjoy spotting their flickering lights on warm evenings However, there are many other insects that resemble lightning bugs. Some bugs mimic lightning bugs to take advantage of their positive associations. Others simply share physical traits or behaviors.
Knowing the difference between real lightning bugs and imposters can be useful. True lightning bugs are harmless and people welcome their presence. Lookalike species may bite sting spread disease, or damage gardens. Distinguishing between them allows you to take appropriate action.
In this article, we will explore 13 bugs commonly confused with lightning bugs. We will cover how to identify them, their habits, and where they live. With this guide, you’ll no longer mistake beetles, true bugs, and other insects for luminous lightning bugs.
Lightning Bug Identification
Let’s first go over the main features of real lightning bugs. This will make it easier to distinguish them from other species.
Lightning bugs belong to the Lampyridae insect family. They include around 2,000 species of beetles that naturally glow. Most lightning bugs in North America are in the Photinus genus.
Some key traits can help you recognize them:
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Bioluminescence: Lightning bugs have special light-producing organs under their abdomens. This ability to glow sets them apart from lookalikes.
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Coloration: They are typically brown, black, or pale yellow. Their bioluminescent sections may be yellowish or greenish.
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Size: Most lightning bugs are around 1⁄2 – 1 inch long. Larger beetles over 1 inch are unlikely to be lightning bugs.
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Habitat: Lightning bugs thrive in moist forests and open fields. If found in drier areas, they probably aren’t lightning bugs.
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Seasonality: In North America, lightning bugs are active between spring and early fall. Seeing them outside summer is unusual.
Using these signs can help you accurately identify lightning bugs. Now let’s examine 13 insects frequently mistaken for them.
13 Lightning Bug Lookalikes
1. Goldenrod Soldier Beetles
Goldenrod soldier beetles share the classic lighting bug shape. They have elongated bodies and long antennae. Their wings are brown with black markings. These beetles lack bioluminescence but their coloration resembles many lightning bugs. They are common across the Midwestern United States.
2. Margined Leatherwing Beetles
Margined leatherwings also mimic lightning bug silhouettes. They have light brown wings trimmed in a darker shade. These beetles live in North American forests. Central American rainforests are another home. Without a glow, they can fool observers into thinking they are lightning bugs.
3. American Carrion Beetles
Carrion beetle larvae are nearly indistinguishable from flightless female lightning bugs. The larvae are large, up to 1.5 inches, and dark brown. They lack wings and glows but otherwise resemble certain lightning bugs. Adults sometimes trick the eye as well with their dark wings and bright orange-marked thoraxes.
4. Groundselbush Beetles
Groundselbush beetles sport the classic wing look of many lightning bugs. Their wings are primarily black with pale tan or cream patterning. As residents of forests worldwide, groundselbush beetles overlap with lightning bug environments. Lacking bioluminescence, they rely on mimicry to fit in.
5. Striped Blister Beetles
Striped blister beetles display considerable sexual dimorphism. Females resemble flightless female lightning bugs. Males have striped wings that could be confused for certain lightweight bug species. These beetles act like lightning bugs too, avoiding daytime heat and activity.
6. Colorado Soldier Beetles
Everything about Colorado soldier beetles screams lightning bug. They share the shape, wing design, and black and brown color palette. Their larvae are also dark like some flightless female lightning bugs. Just don’t expect them to light up, as they lack bioluminescent organs.
7. Yellow-necked Soldier Beetles
Yellow-necked soldier beetles have dark wings and contrasting yellow-brown thoraxes. Their shape, antennae, and dark legs closely match lightning bug features. These beetles can be spotted around Maine and New York in the summer when lightning bugs are active.
8. Wrinkled Soldier Beetles
Growing under 0.5 inches long, wrinkled soldier beetles aren’t far off typical lightning bug sizes. Their dark wings and brown thoraxes reinforce the resemblance. Look for them eating leaves in North American gardens and forests. Avoid misidentification by noting their lack of glows.
9. Texas Soldier Beetles
The elongated shape and brown and black coloration of Texas soldier beetles bring lightning bugs to mind. Rather than bioluminescence, these beetles have yellowish-brown thoraxes and central wing markings. Catch them visiting wildflowers in spring through summer.
10. California Bordered Plant Bugs
This true bug mimics lighting bug colors with its black body and orange-brown wing edges. Its size and shape differ somewhat from lightning bugs, but the coloration is a good match. Look for these bugs eating pollen on plants along the California coast.
11. Two-lined Leatherwings
Two-lined leatherwings resemble lightning bugs in color, seasonality, and diet. They overwinter as adults and reemerge in summer to eat pollen. Their black wings and brown head could cause you to do a double take. Just don’t expect them to glow.
12. Boxelder Bugs
Boxelder bugs tend to congregate in groups, much like social aggregations of certain lightning bugs. Nymphs have red and black coloration matching some lightning bug species. They primarily live on female boxelder trees instead of more diverse habitats, unlike true lightning bugs.
13. Milkweed Bugs
Various milkweed bug species mimic lightning bug color patterns, displaying orange, black, and red. Sometimes their long wings cover this coloration. Note their specialization for milkweed plants, spherical shape, and long piercing mouthparts to distinguish them from oblong, smooth lightning bugs.
How To Avoid Misidentification
As you can see, many insects resemble lightning bugs at first glance or exhibit lookalike behaviors. Avoid mistaken identity by looking for key differences:
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Bioluminescence – True lightning bugs can produce light. Imposters lack this ability.
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Wings – Lightning bugs have smooth wings that lie flat over their abdomen. Imposter wings may differ in shape, texture, or positioning.
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Antennae – Lightning bug antennae are slender and as long as the body. Imposters may have shorter, thicker antennae.
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Colors – Lightning bugs limit their color palette to blacks, browns, yellows, and oranges. Imposters sometimes display blue, metallic green, or red.
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Host Plants – Lightning bugs aren’t picky and live near diverse plants. Imposters may stick to specific host plants.
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Habitat – Lightning bugs prefer moist forests and fields. Dry areas indicate an impersonator.
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Seasonality – Lightning bugs peak from spring through early fall. Imposters may occupy different seasons.
There will always be some risk of mix-ups when identifying insects based on sight alone. If you can gently capture a suspect bug, looking for bioluminescence will give you a definite answer. Otherwise, applying the tips above can help distinguish true lightning bugs from copycats.
Enjoying Lightning Bugs While Avoiding Lookalikes
Seeing flickering lightning bugs at summer’s end is a nostalgic tradition for many. With this guide, you can better appreciate these special insects and avoid potential imposters. If an insect seems misplaced based on its features, habits, or habitat, it likely isn’t a true lightning bug.
Avoid handling any suspect insects you can’t positively identify. Some beetles and true bugs can deliver painful bites and stings. If you have concerns about invasive lookalikes in your area, contact a local entomologist or extension office. With improved identification skills, you can sit back and enjoy the charming glow of real lightning bugs lighting up the night.
Watch: Fireflies Glowing in Sync to Attract Mates | National Geographic
FAQ
What bug looks similar to a lightning bug?
Soldier beetles
The following image is a great example of a soldier beetle that is mimicking a firefly. Notice how the colors on it’s head look very similar to the colors of a firefly head even down to the red, yellow, and black spot in the middle.
What is the bug that looks like a lightning bug but isn t?
Soldier beetles are related to fireflies but do not have the light-producing organs that fireflies have.
How to get rid of the bugs that look like lightning bugs?
The easiest way to remove boxelder bugs once they are indoors is a vacuum cleaner. You can also use an insecticide spray around the baseboards and window seals on the home’s interior to further control the bugs.
Do any other bugs light up like fireflies?
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Fireflies (also known as lightning bugs):These are beetles in the family Lampyridae that produce light through a chemical reaction to attract mates.
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Glowworms:These are also beetles, but unlike fireflies, they are wingless and their adult females often resemble larvae, emitting a steady glow instead of flashing.
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Click Beetles:Some species of click beetles, like those in the genus Pyrophorus, are known for their bioluminescence, emitting a constant glow that can be intensified when threatened.
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Railroad Worms:These are actually the larvae of certain beetle species, and they are known for their glowing, often yellowish-green and red, light.
What is the difference between a soldier beetle and a lightning bug?
Soldier beetles (Image 1) are general predators of small insects. The lightning bug (Image 2) is both a curiosity and beneficial insect. Knowing the difference is valuable for both educational and management purposes. Image 1. Soldier Beetle Adult Lightning Bug Adult. More about Soldier Beetles. Was the information on this page helpful?
Do Fireflies look like lightning bugs?
While it may seem easy to identify fireflies at night, there are several other insects that look remarkably similar to our beloved lightning bugs. There are many species of fireflies. In general, they have a dark brown or black body with red markings at the head. Their long wings are black and striped brown and cover most of the rest of its body.
Are lightning bugs flies?
Also known as fireflies, lighting bugs are types of bugs and not flies. Usually winged, the lightning bugs are nocturnal and produce light, which makes them a highly distinctive species. Fireflies may be difficult to correctly identify outside of their glowing physical traits as they come in different colors, shapes, and sizes.
Why does my Bug look like a Firefly?
If your bug looks like it has light at its tail but it isn’t black like a standard firefly, you might have found a mimic. Some species of longhorn beetles have evolved to have a similar shape and color to fireflies, including two segments on their tail that appear lighter than the rest of their body.
Are striped blister beetles female Lightning Bugs?
Striped Blister Beetle larvae can easily be confused with female lighting bugs as well, especially in the later growth stages. Initially bright, the larvae of Striped Blister Beetles become red-brown or brown. With short legs and now wings, it can be taken for a female lightning bug.
Do longhorn beetles look like fireflies?
Some species of longhorn beetles have evolved to have a similar shape and color to fireflies, including two segments on their tail that appear lighter than the rest of their body. The longhorn beetle is browner and won’t have the significant red markings on the head that fireflies have.