Fire Flies in Ireland?

cd07

Hey guys i was down in wicklow for the night during the week and i saw what i can only assume was a firefly. I didnt think we had them here can anyone clarify this for me? It definitly wasnt a moth and it was emitting green light from under its abdomen. Thanks

snowstreams

Thats interesting. Sounds like you did see one. Was it a larva or did it look more like a beetle?
They occur in the UK. Even as close to wicklow as Anglesea, so maybe a few got blown over on the easterly winds lately?

Check out this link on the UK glowworm page. They are present all over England and wales with even a few in Western scotland, so looks plausible that they could occur here sporadically. http://www.glowworms.org.uk/44001Lampyrisnoctiluca.GIF

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

From the 2009 UK glowworm survey report -
"I have had a report from Greystones, south of Dublin, which is awaiting more recent confirmation. In 2009 I received a report that glow worms can be seen in the Wicklow Mountains but a request for confirmation to the Wicklow National Park has so far gone unanswered. And in 2009 I also heard from Richard Fisk, who spotted what looked like glow worms at Killilane near Rosslare. We really need verification of these reports by means of a photograph of the actual insects, so anyone in the southeast of Ireland is requested to keep their eyes peeled and a camera at the ready."

Tiercel Dave

I have seen 'glow larvae' in the bogs here, E Galway. As you break the surface there are tiny green phosphorescent lights which are visible after dark! Dave

cd07

Thanks for the replies guys. Im willing to bet my life this was a glow worm or firefly. I do a lot of fly fishing so im well up to speed with most of our flying insects.