Hisserdude Posted August 21, 2013 Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 I was wondering how to care for fireflies, in particular Ellychinia hatchi. They are common around here and the larva are nice looking. It's too bad that they are nonluminescent, but I would still like to keep some. Does anybody know how to care for them? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hisserdude Posted August 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 Maybe a sugar water diet for the adults and small snails/worms for the larva? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.ojala Posted August 22, 2013 Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 Don't they eat millipedes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hisserdude Posted August 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 glow worms eat millipedes but i do not think fireflys do, or at least not this species. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizentrop Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 Sorry to bump this post -I have kept a European species of firefly in the past (Lampyris nervosa). Larvae fed exclusively on small snails (easy to get in open fields and meadows). Adults did not accept any food. The nice thing was that the females were parthenogenetic so even with no mating they still laid eggs that would later hatch into larvae. The only tip I can give to anyone trying to breed fireflies is to keep the larvae's container clean. They seems to secrete a chemical when hunting to avoid the snail mucus. If you leave the remains after their meal (shell and what's left of the snail) in the container it really starts to stink after a few days, and the fumes apparently kill the larvae.Btw, all stages of many firefly species can produce light, even the eggs and pupa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hisserdude Posted September 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 Thanks! The species of firefly that live here are not luminescent it says in all my books and on bugguide. Will try to find a couple of fireflies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.