Firefly (Bullyland)

Walk-around of a figure I have been after for a long time, and now thanks to froggie (Beatrice) I now have it: the firefly, Lampyris noctiluca (Linnaeus, 1767) by Bullyland, originally released in 1994. The figure is not marketed at the species level, but given Bullyland is a German company, this probably represents a German species, with L. noctiluca being the best option. This species is the 'common glowworm' of Europe. It has marked sexual dimorphism; males are typically beetle-like with functioning flying wings and fully-developed elytra, but the females are larviform (see last image).

The figure is 7.5 cm (not including appendages, and my figure has broken antennae!), making it roughly 5:1 for an adult male. Because with this species males are only weakly bio-luminescent, the figure does not have well-defined light organs. The eyes are also nicely proportionatly large, as they would be in a species that needs to see well at night! The only perplexing thing is that the elytra are clear. Many of the flying insects that Bullyland put out about the same time as this figure have clear wings, but this being a beetle it should have at least opaque elytra.

On to the pics:

















Here is the Bullyland male with a female custom made for me by Jetoar in 2016:

Fireflies are very popular insects, I think it is true to several cultures of this world, however, they are very rare in toy shape. I am also impressed with the remarkable sexual dimorphism in this species.

I am delighted by this presentation !!!

Actually I wasn't even aware that there are fireflies in Europe

Very interesting, and beautyful photos, - and the fact that the females are so different is completely new to me

Is it ok that I show a picture of the model with unbroken antennae ? Otherwise I'll erase it asap
Just in case somebody is interested  


The tag doesn't mention the species either, but I am sure you are right about it

Thank you Susanne. Please keep these pics here.

Thanks

I never saw it before :)

What an exraordinary model and what an amazing diorama, I love it Thanks for sharing!!