- Lifespan
- 2 years total; adults live 4–6 weeks during summer
- Size & Weight
- 7–11 mm long; females larger and wingless, males smaller with wings
- Habitat
- Grasslands, woodland edges, hedgerows, and rough ground with plenty of leaf litter and moisture, typically on calcareous or neutral soils.
- UK Distribution
- Southern England and Wales, with populations becoming increasingly rare northwards; resident species with no migration.
- Diet
- Larvae are carnivorous, feeding on snails and slugs; adults do not feed and survive on stored reserves.
- Prey
- Snails (especially Helix aspersa) and slugs; larvae are ambush predators
- Predators
- Ground beetles, spiders, shrews, and hedgehogs may prey on larvae and pupae; adults are rarely predated due to nocturnal habits.
- Mating Season
- May to July
- Breeding
- Females lay 30–100 eggs in batches in soil or leaf litter; eggs hatch after 3–4 weeks; larvae develop over two years before pupating and emerging as adults.
- Behaviour
- Wingless females produce bioluminescence from their abdomens to attract winged males at dusk and night; this iconic glow is a chemical reaction (luciferin and luciferase) used solely for mating. Males fly in search of glowing females during warm, humid evenings.