Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Elateroidea
Family: Lampyridae
Subfamily: Luciolini
Genus: Luciola

The pronotum covers the head in both males and females and may contain a reddish spot. The last part of the abdomen is white, and light is emitted in this area by biochemical reactions. Normally, the male emits light occasionally, but the female emits light continuously. The light is produced between dusk and night in these species. In the adult stage, males are winged and have a long, slender body, usually between 5-9 mm long. They can fly at a height of 1 m above the ground or perch on the boot of the plant. Sexual dimorphism is characteristic of females, which may be winged or wingless. They live on the ground, under the grass. They feed on snails. It needs a dark area to survive, because street lights hinder the growth and development of both sexes. Its habitat is moist and calcareous soils. The Italian firefly is common in Italy and the countries of the Western Balkans.