Brazilian Headlight Firefly vs Creeping Water Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Brazilian Headlight Firefly Creeping Water Bug
Scientific Name Pyrearinus termitilluminans Ilyocoris cimicoides
Order Coleoptera Hemiptera
Family Lampyridae Naucoridae
Size 15-20 mm 12-16 mm
Habitat Woodlands Ponds & Lakes
Diet Predators Predators
Regions South America Europe
Conservation Data Deficient Least Concern

Brazilian Headlight Firefly

A unique click beetle relative whose bioluminescent larvae inhabit termite mounds in the Brazilian cerrado. The glowing mounds are a famous natural spectacle.

💡

Did You Know?

Termite mounds dotted with hundreds of glowing larvae resemble miniature cities at night and are a famous sight in Emas National Park.

Creeping Water Bug

A robust aquatic bug that crawls along pond bottoms and delivers a painful bite.

💡

Did You Know?

Its forelegs are powerfully built raptorial limbs for seizing prey.