Only the last few abdominal segments are luminous. Their head is concealed from above by a pronotum, and their antennae are threadlike. The first pair of wings, the elytra, form a cover over the second pair. The males possess two pairs of wings, but use only the second pair for flying. The larvae are often only a few milimeters long. The adult female is 12-20 mm long, while the males are much smaller. Lampyris noctiluca is usually brownish to blackish in color. Other names that you may have heard for the Lampyridae family in general are fireflies and lightning bugs. Although Lampyris noctiluca is often referred to as a glow worm, it isn't worm-like at all. This family also includes other glowing species. The glow worm, Lampyris noctiluca, is actually a beetle in the insect family Lampyridae meaning 'shining ones' in Greek. They prefer open grass or hedges to woodland, but rarely are they to be found on land which has been improved for agriculture.

They retire into the ground during the day. They need an open area where the females can display to attract a male in June, July, and August.

(Scagell 1994) The species occurs elsewhere in Europe, for example in Belgium and Finland.

It has been found in valleys in Wales and Scotland. In Great Britain, Lampyris noctiluca favors chalky or limestone areas.

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