St Mark's Fly vs Firefly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | St Mark's Fly | Firefly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bibio johannis | Photinus pyralis |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Bibionidae | Lampyridae |
| Size | 6-10mm | 10-14 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Root Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
St Mark's Fly
A small black fly that swarms in May. Males have large heads with huge eyes that almost meet on top.
Did You Know?
Often confused with the larger Bibio marci but emerges slightly later and has entirely dark legs.
Firefly
Famous for bioluminescent signals produced by a chemical reaction in their abdomen. Each species has a unique flash pattern used for mate recognition.
Did You Know?
Firefly light is the most efficient in the world — nearly 100% of the energy is emitted as light, compared to only 10% for an incandescent bulb.