Most firefly species flash on and off. The Lamprigera fireflies flash constantly, varying their intensity and speed. They effortlessly float in air and zoom past with varying colours of deep green.

Millions of synchronous fireflies light up the dark forests of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve while a sky full of stars shine overhead.

I study fireflies for the IUCN Fireflies Specialist Group. In December 2023, while on a field trip observing firefly larvae, we noticed odd, bluish firefly glows, floating in moist air and moving swiftly. These are fireflies of the genus Lamprigera, a first time find in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve and a genus very little described. Male fireflies fly low to the ground, looking for females in the foliage. Females are in larval form even as adults. Their flashes appear bluish from a distance and lime green from up close. This is likely due to the 'Purkinje effect', our eyes are more sensitive to blue light at night.