Fireflies (family Lampyridae), also called lightning bugs, are luminous beetles. These names come from the fact that the adults of some species emit flashes of light to attract mates for sexual reproduction, using special light-emitting organs in the abdomen. Fireflies also glow as larvae and are known as "glowworms."
In addition to reflecting the rich diversity and order in nature (such as examples of synchronous flashing), the fact that fireflies utilize a spectrum of light visible to human beings allows them to provide joy to countless humans who observe their displays. Thus, in addition to fulfilling a necessary individual purpose related to reproduction, the fireflies offer an aesthetic benefit to people.