Let’s go on a firefly safari.

You won’t need a big truck or jeep or go to faraway places to see some wild life. While many will be looking up to watching the sky light up this weekend, I will be looking down and out into the woods to see nature’s glow up.

Firefly season is here and these little beetles pack their own bang (even if it is chemical). Two chemicals, luciferin and luciferase, held in the insect’s abdomen combine to produce those delightful night flashes.

No binoculars are needed to identify who’s who, just patience, darkness and a little bit of knowledge. There are more than 150 described firefly species in North America and at least 20 of these species are found in Massachusetts. While those numbers may seem daunting, these groups can be broken down and identified through careful observation of the color of their light and the number, duration and time between their flashes.

The scientific genus Photinus, from a Greek root meaning shining or bright, includes about 15 species in New England. These fireflies are small, at approximately half an inch, and are active at dusk and at night. Their identification clue is their yellow green flash. 

Next up are the Pyractomena species, of which several reside in Massachusetts. Identify these beetles by a raised ridge that runs down the middle of their pronotum, or head shield. These are similarly sized to the Photinus species; however they have an amber-colored flash — think camp fire ember — that is seen at night.

Photuris is the next genus to consider. A larger firefly at one inch, these big ‘uns have long slender legs and a stripe going down their elytra (wing covers). Their flash is green so can be distinguished from the others. But they also have another trick up their elytra.

Fear them, if you are another firefly. This genus of more than 60 species uses aggressive mimicry to confuse and consume their preferred prey. Unlike the aforementioned fireflies, members of the Photuris genus do not produce their own protective toxins which the others use to dissuade predators. 

Instead, they eat the toxin-producing fireflies to obtain the chemical compound for their protection. In a tricky tryst, female Photuris will imitate the Photinus‘s flash to attract males of that species who will get eaten, black widow style, when they respond to the lusty light. All is fair in light and love.

Even if you become skilled in identification of these beetles, debate remains on what to call them. While I’ve used fireflies as a descriptor, others insist on lightning bugs. Linguists have shed some light on the differences in terms.

If you live in the Western US or New England, you likely say fireflies. Those in the south and Midwest prefer lighting bugs. New Yorkers, not surprisingly, buck the trends. In one study, residents of Manhattan called them fireflies 86 per cent of the time, while those in Staten Island called them lightning bugs 60 per cent of the time. It has been suggested that those terms align with the prevalence and concerns of wildfires or lightning strikes that occur more often in each locale.

Call them what you will, nature’s nightlights will shine a bit longer, so consider your next wildlife adventure not in some far away, exotic land, but right in your backyard.

Suzan Bellincampi is director of the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary in Edgartown, and author of Martha’s Vineyard: A Field Guide to Island Nature and The Nature of Martha’s Vineyard.