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Glite Dictionary
Lampyridae

Lampyridae

1 9.9
A group of beetles called fireflies that make light at night
  • noun
  • /ˌlæmˈpɪrɪdi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Lampíridos
  • In warm climates, you can often see Lampyridae flickering in the darkness as they search for food.

Examples

  • The Lampyridae family includes many species known for their glowing abdomens that attract mates.

  • Family Lampyridae.

    Anaconda (1997)

  • Those are actually part of the Lampyridae family.

    Black Widow (2021)

  • Fireflies are not flies at all, but beetles belonging to the family Lampyridae.

    Academic text (2003)

  • Fireflies, which are part of the Lampyridae family, light up the night sky during summer evenings.

Synonyms

firefly
vsLampyridae
33 1.3

A small beetle that makes a soft light in its tail at night

is the scientific family name used in biological classification
lightning bug
vsLampyridae
  • US
4 2.8

A small insect that makes a soft light at night

is the formal taxonomic term rather than a regional common name

Surface Forms

Lampyridae singular
Lampyridae plural
Lampyrid singular

Morphology

Lampyridae = lampyr + idae

A specialized taxonomic formation using the combining form 'lampyr-' and the family suffix '-idae'; the root is not a standalone English word and the components do not help a typical learner infer the meaning.

Etymology

The word Lampyridae comes from the Greek root lampyr- meaning 'shining' and is related to the English word lamp. So, think of these beetles as tiny 'lamps' in the night, which is why Lampyridae are the light-making beetles called fireflies.