Fireflies, as the larvae and beetles of some insects are called, are found in different parts of the world. They can often be seen in caves and outdoors: wherever the environmental conditions are humid, where there is enough food, and where there is a high wall or canopy.
Fireflies don't live in cities, they prefer wildlife. But even in suburban conditions, fireflies can appear and disappear in a certain area.
Their habitat is prairie, steppe and pampa.
Various species of fireflies are found in North and South America, Europe (UK), Russia, Asia (China, Malaysia and India), New Zealand, Australia.
Fireflies prey on small snails and slugs and should be found in areas where these prey are found. Insects are easier to observe from May to July when they mate. Fireflies are visible in the evening, for about two hours after dark. Fireflies are much less common in the forest than on open grassy grounds or near hedges. However, insects are not found near agricultural fertilized lands.
Firefly colony in Malaysia
A large colony of fireflies is found near Kampung Kuatan, a small settlement near Kuala Selangor in Malaysia, on the coast of the Strait of Malacca. These fireflies belong to the Lampyridae family. The insect colony aroused the interest of entomologists back in the 70s of the 20th century.
The natural park, now open to the public at this site, is a combination of tropical and swamp forests. Fireflies live only in the mangrove forests of this reserve with an area of 296 hectares. During the day, they go into the grasses growing next to the mangrove trees. With the onset of night, they move to the mangroves standing along the banks of the river. In the trees, they feed on the sap of their leaves. Females and males of the insect glow in the dark with a greenish flickering light, attracting each other for mating.
Each tree can be inhabited by a separate subspecies of fireflies, and this is noticeable by their flickering, which differs from the glow of fireflies of another subspecies in the frequency of flickering.
Since 2000, the number of fireflies in the reserve has dropped significantly. Local residents believe that the reason for this is the construction of a dam in the upper reaches of the river.
Fireflies of Great Britain
In the British Isles, there are fireflies of the Lampyris noctiluca family. Although it is believed that members of this family prefer limestone soils, they have been observed in various parts of the UK.
Fireflies are found in gardens, hedges, and railroad embankments. Most often they can be found on abandoned railways. Insects are also observed on sheer cliffs, in woodlands, in the wastelands, in the hollows of Scotland and Wales.
Fireflies are also found on the island of Jersey, under the protection of the United Kingdom.
In general, fireflies are much more common in the southern British Isles.
