Common eastern firefly
Photinus pyralis
The most familiar and widespread firefly across eastern North America, recognizable from the male's rising J-shaped flight and single yellow flash at dusk. Larvae are nocturnal predators that live for one to two years in moist soil and leaf litter, hunting soft-bodied invertebrates such as snails, slugs, and earthworms before pupating. Because every life stage depends on consistent soil moisture and undisturbed ground cover, the species responds directly to garden practices that retain leaf litter and native groundcover rather than clearing and tidying.
Conservation
Assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (2020) — still the most common firefly in North America. Documented threats to fireflies generally are light pollution, pesticide use, habitat loss, and soil disturbance; reducing outdoor lighting and leaving moist leaf litter undisturbed are the canonical garden-scale conservation actions.