Image of a glow worm (this one is actually a Firefly)

A glow-worm, or glowworm, is an insect.Other names for glow-worms are fire-fly and lightning bug.

There are several insects given this name. Most are beetles, but one is a fly, Arachnocampa. They are nocturnal, active during the night. They have special organs that can produce light. This is used to find mates. The patterns in which the beetles flash is unique to each species.

The major families are

• Lampyridae (Fireflies). The adult female of this family has no wings. It is the glow worm of the literature.
• Phengodidae (Glow-worm beetles, glow-worms), found in North and South America. One species, the railroad worm features two colors.
• Arachnocampa, flies found in Australia and New Zealand