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⬅ #35 damselfly #36 fireflyNH-Icon-firefly #37 mole cricket ➡


Firefly Gallery

"I caught a firefly! Now I'm glowing with pride!" —New Leaf

The firefly (ホタル, Hotaru?) is a common nocturnal bug in the Animal Crossing series. It occurs between 7pm and 4am, during the month of June, flying near fresh water (rivers and ponds). It is easy to find, giving off an eerie glow that calmly fades and strengthens. In Wild World, fireflies were represented by bright yellow 'blobs', the same color as the light given off by buildings.

Donation to the museum[]

As with all bugs in the Animal Crossing series, the firefly can be donated to the Museum followed by a small talk by Blathers, the curator.

In Wild World[]

Despite reluctantly accepting a firefly, Blathers will still talk about it;

"I've heard tales of children unable to buy candles... Yes, these unfortunate souls are said to have studied by firefly light! Ugh. The mere thought of having a bug that close... Blech! So very vile... I'd rather read in darkness!"

After donation, the firefly can be found in one of several locations. At night, it flies around the pond in the exhibit on the left of the first room, and can be seen as a yellow blob (as outside). In the daytime, it can be seen resting on a weed toward the south-west corner of the exhibit on the left of the first room, not lit up and presumably asleep.

In City Folk[]

Upon donating to the museum, Blathers the curator will say;

"Many theories exist as to why fireflies can glow, but we've yet to find a clear answer, eh wot? The answer is not nearly so relevant as the fact they are bugs, and therefore wretched."

It can be found hovering over the small pond to the bottom-left in the bottom terrace, occasionally.

In New Leaf[]

After donating a firefly, the museum sign will read:

"Both male and female fireflies are capable of producing light from their lower abdomens. This light isn't the same as the light from a lightbulb, though, and isn't hot when you touch it. Fireflies can actually glow when in the egg and larval stages, but that light is comparatively weaker."

In New Horizons[]

In New Horizons, upon donation or selecting "Tell me about this!", Blathers the curator will say (with abhorrence):

"The firefly isn't a fly at all! It is a beetle, you see—and one known for its ghastly glowing backside. This light is called "bioluminescence" and it is caused by...by...a chemical reaction in the rump. Males flash about in the night sky to attract females, while their larvae turn on the glow to put off predators. Speaking of their yucky young, firefly larvae love to dine on snails! Hoo! Ewwww!"

Capture quotes[]

"Whoa! A firefly! I caught a firefly! Yow! They're really hot!" —Animal Crossing
"Hey hey! I caught a firefly! The gentle light... It relaxes me..." —Wild World
"Whoo! I caught a firefly! Now I don't need a flashlight!" —City Folk
"I caught a firefly! I'm on fire now!" —New Horizons


Encyclopedia information[]

Wild World[]

Bug
Encyclopedia Information
Firefly (Wild World) "Both males and females light up. They inhale to light up, and exhale to go out."
Size 15 mm
Time Night
Season Summer
Icon Firefly (Wild World icon)


City Folk[]

Bug
Encyclopedia Information
Firefly (City Folk)
"The posteriors of both females and males light up. They are not turn signals."
Size About 15 mm
Time Night
Season Summer


New Leaf[]

Bug
Encyclopedia Information
Firefly encyclopedia (New Leaf)
"I caught a fire fly! Now I'm glowing with pride!"
Size About 15 mm
Time Night
Season Summer

Further information[]

Real firefly

A real life firefly

In real life, the firefly is a type of beetle. Fireflies produce light by a chemical reaction inside of their transparent thorax. It releases no heat, so the name firefly is misleading. Fireflies are a kind of beetle that inhabits wet meadows and marshes. Glowworms, a kind of firefly, are less picky in their habitat of choice.

In other languages[]

Firefly
Language Name Translation
Japan Japanese ホタル Hotaru -
France French Luciole -
Spain Spanish Luciérnaga -
Germany German Leuchtkäfer -
Italy Italian Lucciola -
The Netherlands Dutch Vuurvliegje -
Russia Russian Светлячок Svetlyachok -
China Chinese 萤火虫/螢火蟲 Yínghuǒchóng -
South Korea Korean 반디 Bandi -


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