Nyctophila reichii, commonly known as the Mediterranean firefly, is a species of firefly. The species is very common in the southern and eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula.
The Mediterranean firefly is a small beetle, typically measuring 15-18 mm for the male and up to 4 cm for the female. Its body coloration is predominantly black or brown.
These organisms exhibit significant sexual dimorphism, with females tending to have a morphology more similar to that of larvae, while males have a more classic beetle shape.
Females, therefore, are flightless, although they have vestigial wings and have an elongated shape. They are characterized by the ability to generate a large amount of greenish light in the ventral region of the last three abdominal segments. Furthermore, they can expose more of the bioluminescent region by twisting the terminal area of their body.
Males, on the other hand, have a more classic beetle shape, with elytra that cover the entire abdomen and membranous wings that allow flight. Their pronotum is wide, light-colored, with a reddish spot on its surface, and conceals well-developed eyes for detecting the bioluminescence of females. It's worth noting that, unlike other fireflies, these males are not capable of generating bioluminescence.
