Neature Feature: Lightning Bug Larvae
Before they become flashing adult fireflies, lightning bugs spend most of their lives hidden underground as worm-like larvae. Often called glowworms, these fierce little hunters live in moist soil and leaf litter, where they spend up to two years glowing and eating garden pests like slugs and snails.
Hidden Hunters
- The Underground Life: Larvae hatch from eggs in late summer and live in the dirt through the winter.
- What They Eat: They hunt soft bugs, worms, snails, and slugs in the dark.
- How They Feed: They inject venom to paralyze and melt their prey before eating.
- The Glow: Both larvae and eggs can glow with a cold light to warn enemies that they taste bad.