A number of firefly ID guides and other resources have become available in the last decade. We’ve shared a few of our favorites here, as well as some more in-depth taxonomic keys for folks who want more technical resources. Note that firefly taxonomy and knowledge is ever-evolving, so you may find some inconsistencies between sources.
Books
LINK: Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies
General Resources
LINK: The Lampyridae of the World
LINK: World Lampyridae, Lycidae, Phengodidae, Drilidae, and miscellany
LINK: Fireflyers International Network
Regional firefly identification guides (online)
LINK: Field Guide to Western North American Fireflies
LINK: Guide to Fireflies of the Southwest
LINK: The Fireflies of Ontario (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)
LINK: Fireflies of Texas
Taxonomic revisions, monographs, and keys
Genera of the World
LINK: Lampyrid-ID: Key to the world genera of fireflies (Coleoptera, Lampyridae)
Photuris
LINK: North American Fireflies of the Genus Photuris
Photinus
LINK: Studies on the Flash Communication System in Photinus Fireflies
LINK: Revision of the Nearctic Species of Photinus (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)
Pyractomena
LINK: Revision of the Nearctic Species of Pyractomena (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)
Notice: Below is a list of 15 important links included on this page.
2. Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies
3. The Lampyridae of the World
4. World Lampyridae, Lycidae, Phengodidae, Drilidae, and miscellany
5. Fireflyers International Network
6. Field Guide to Western North American Fireflies
7. Guide to Fireflies of the Southwest
8. The Fireflies of Ontario (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)
10. Lampyrid-ID: Key to the world genera of fireflies (Coleoptera, Lampyridae)
11. North American Fireflies of the Genus Photuris
13. Studies on the Flash Communication System in Photinus Fireflies
14. Revision of the Nearctic Species of Photinus (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)
15. Revision of the Nearctic Species of Pyractomena (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)
Please note that while screen readers have made significant strides, they may still lack full support for optimal web accessibility.
A number of firefly ID guides and other resources have become available in the last decade. We’ve shared a few of our favorites here, as well as some more in-depth taxonomic keys for folks who want more technical resources. Note that firefly taxonomy and knowledge is ever-evolving, so you may find some inconsistencies between sources.
Books
- Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning Bugs: Identification and Natural History of the Fireflies of the Eastern and Central United States and Canada (Faust, 2017)
- Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies (Lewis, 2016)
General Resources
- The Lampyridae of the World (Keller, 2024) A comprehensive database for the world fauna of fireflies.
- World Lampyridae, Lycidae, Phengodidae, Drilidae, and miscellany (Cicero, 2013) Users can search this online database for literature related to specific genera and/or species.
- Fireflyers International Network maintains an extensive list of keys and field guides for North America and beyond
Regional firefly identification guides (online)
- Field Guide to Western North American Fireflies (Buschman, 2016)
- Guide to Fireflies of the Southwest (Walker, 2024)
- The Fireflies of Ontario (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) (Luk, Marshall & Branham, 2011) Be aware that this source states that Photuris pensylvanica is the only species of Photuris in Ontario. Since this publication, Photuris pensylvanica has come to be used more narrowly and is not thought to occur in Ontario.
- Fireflies of Texas (firefly.org, Pfeiffer) This webpage includes profiles of six fireflies that are among the approximately 39 firefly species found in Texas.
Taxonomic revisions, monographs, and keys
Genera of the World
- Lampyrid-ID: Key to the world genera of fireflies (Coleoptera, Lampyridae) (Martin, Branham, Da Silveira, Bybee, 2020)
Photuris
- North American Fireflies of the Genus Photuris (Barber, 1951)
- A naturalist’s long walk among shadows: of North American Photuris — patterns, outlines, silhouettes… echoes. (Lloyd, 2018)
Photinus
- Studies on the Flash Communication System in Photinus Fireflies (Lloyd, 1966)
- Revision of the Nearctic Species of Photinus (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) (Green, 1956)
