This Bug Was Found in My Maine Home – What is It?

This scary-looking bug is actually beloved in Maine.

I saw this bug and thought, "What the hell is this scary beetle?" Then I thought I saw something that made me love this bug.

So I'm watching this beetle-looking thing, and thinking,

Ugh, not another bug trying to come into my house.

But then I noticed something and thought, "I've never actually seen one of these in the light!"

It's a firefly! I went most of my adult life without seeing a firefly. I had seen them in movies with kids in flowing dresses trying to catch them in jars, but I had never actually seen one in real life. It's pretty impressive to see one in action.

How does a firefly light up?

According to Earth Sky, the light of a firefly is a chemical reaction caused by an organic compound in their abdomens called luciferin. Air rushes into a firefly’s abdomen and reacts with luciferin. That chemical reaction causes the light, which is sometimes called "cold light" because it generates very little heat. Plus, they can control the airflow to get a pulsing light pattern. They do this for a few reasons, mainly because it warns predators that they taste bitter. Frogs don't seem to mind the taste, and they eat so many fireflies that they actually start to glow!

Do fireflies eat other fireflies?

Yup. Sometimes, females use their light to attract a mate, not for sexy time, but dinnertime. While each firefly species has its own pattern of flashing, some females imitate the patterns of other species. As a result, males land next to them only to be eaten alive. Hey, when you're hungry, you're hungry.

If you see this beetle in the daytime, it's a sweet little firefly.