It's a right of passage in Iowa: Stepping out into your backyard to see fireflies lighting up the night sky. There are more than 170 species of glowing insects known as Lampyridae in North America.

Whether you like to call them fireflies or lightning bugs, there's no denying that they are fascinating to watch on a warm summer evening. But have you wondered what makes these tiny bugs light up?

The season for lightning bugs—also known as fireflies—is beginning as warmer, more humid air spreads north across the country. These glowing insects thrive in slightly tropical environments and are a ...

Fireflies, otherwise known as lightning bugs, are known for their ability to glow at night. According to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, fireflies are actually not flies, but are ...

Now is the time of year many might begin to see annual fireflies lighting up yards — a sign that summer has finally arrived. But could that beloved sight be in jeopardy? Fireflies, also known as ...

It’s the last day of June and I’m standing under the overhang on my back deck protected from the last drips of a rainstorm. It’s past nine o’clock but not quite dark yet. But the yard is starting to ...

It wouldn't be summer here in New Jersey without fireflies ... or are they lightning bugs? Regardless, these insects are a harbinger of the season, typically appearing in May, June or July, ...

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. ST. LOUIS (KTVI) – Those magical summer dusk ...

ST. LOUIS (KTVI) – Those magical summer dusk scenes we shared as children featuring fireflies are slowly becoming extinct. Depending on where you grew up, you may call them fireflies, lightning bugs ...