An illuminating survey of the scientific and cultural history of the many-named glowing insect: the spark bug, lightning bug, or firefly.

Fireflies have inspired poets, songwriters, and scientists for centuries. Their brief, flickering light has stood for love, destiny, wealth, and cosmic mystery while also attracting Renaissance alchemists and modern researchers determined to understand bioluminescence. Long celebrated in Japanese folklore, the firefly is not without a dark side: witchcraft and black magic have represented it as a forlorn, mischievous, or bloodthirsty spirit. Its real life is equally dramatic: predatory behavior both within and beyond the species, and the growing threat of extinction, challenge the insects that illuminate our summer nights. This book brings together biology, legend, and art, accompanied by a remarkable portfolio of field photographs and international artworks. The result is a luminous portrait of a fragile creature with enduring power over the human imagination.