Pennsylvania Firefly vs Cockchafer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Pennsylvania Firefly | Cockchafer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Photuris pennsylvanica | Melolontha melolontha |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Lampyridae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 10-15 mm | 25-30 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Predators | Root Feeders |
| Regions | Eastern North America from Canada to Georgia | Western Europe, Central Europe, Northern Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Pennsylvania Firefly
A common firefly of the eastern United States that produces a green-yellow bioluminescent flash. Adults are soft-bodied with a dark pronotum edged in pink.
Did You Know?
Females mimic the flash patterns of other firefly species to lure males as prey, earning them the name femme fatale fireflies.
Cockchafer
A large, clumsy-flying chafer beetle that emerges en masse on warm May evenings. Its white C-shaped larvae are familiar agricultural pests across Europe.
Did You Know?
In medieval Europe, cockchafer swarms were so destructive that they were once put on trial in court.