History Main / LightingBug

* i ''WesternAnimation/{{Smallfoot}}'': The yetis use glowing snails as illumination, activating them [[ClapperGag by clapping]]. They also believe the sun is a giant snail crawling across the sky.

* In ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', a Glowing One -- a ghoul so heavily irradiated that it glows green -- is used for a lighthouse's beacon. Each Companion has their own opinion on it: [[RobotMaid Codsworth]], [[TheLancer Preston]], [[HardboiledDetective Nick]] and [[FightingIrish Cait]] are all impressed by the idea, while [[TheFundamentalist Danse]], [[AscendedExtra MacCready]], [[TheSpook Deacon]] and [[TheStoner Hancock]] are dismissive of it, and [[IntrepidReporter Piper]] and [[{{Adorkable}} Curie]] are more interested in the lighthouse itself.

** ''Disney/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'': The Atlanteans use round, hollow orbs hung from poles and filled with glowing insects for illumination. Notably, the insects they use for this role are the same kind that earlier destroyed the expedition's campsite, as they burst into blazing flames when crushed.

** ''Disney/RobinHood'': A fishbowl of fireflies hung from a fishing pole is used as a way to trick Prince John into thinking that Robin Hood (disguised as a gypsy fortuneteller) can speak to spirits.

* In ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', a Glowing One -- a ghoul so heavily irradiated that it glows green -- is used for a lighthouse's beacon. Each Companion has their own opinion on it: [[RobotMaid Codsworth]], [[TheLancer Preston]], [[HardboiledDetective Nick]] and [[FightingIrish Cait]] are all impressed by the idea, while [[TheFundamentalist Danse]], [[AscendedExtra MacCready]], [[TheSpook Deacon]] and [[TheStoner Hancock]] are dismissive of it, and [[HotScoop Piper]] and [[{{Adorkable}} Curie]] are more interested in the lighthouse itself.

* ''Disney/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'': The Atlanteans use round, hollow orbs hung from poles and filled with glowing insects for illumination. Notably, the insects they use for this role are the same kind that earlier destroyed the expedition's campsite, as they burst into blazing flames when crushed.

* ''Disney/RobinHood'': A fishbowl of fireflies hung from a fishing pole is used as a way to trick Prince John into thinking that Robin Hood (disguised as a gypsy fortuneteller) can speak to spirits.

* The yetis in ''WesternAnimation/{{Smallfoot}}'' use glowing snails as illumination, activating them [[ClapperGag by clapping]]. They also believe the sun is a giant snail crawling across the sky.
* In ''[[WesternAnimation/DisneyFairies Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure]]'', Tink's SnarkyNonHumanSideKick, Blaze the firefly, embodies this trope in the poorly lit parts of their adventure.

* ''Literature/GreenSkyTrilogy'': The Kindar use lamps that are baited with honey to attract bio-luminescent moths who feed on the honey. Honey lamps also act as a game mechanic; they have a very limited use time, meaning your character could be left in the dark if they don't have a backup light source.

* In ''[[VideoGame/DarkTales Dark Tales: The Gold Bug]]'', near the end of the game, you capture some lightning bugs and put them inside a glass lantern to create a light source.
* In ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', a [[MetalSlime Glowing]] [[OurZombiesAreDifferent One]] is used for a lighthouse's beacon. Each Companion has their own opinion on it: [[RobotMaid Codsworth]], [[TheLancer Preston]], [[HardboiledDetective Nick]] and [[FightingIrish Cait]] are all impressed by the idea, while [[TheFundamentalist Danse]], [[AscendedExtra [=MacCready=]]], [[TheSpook Deacon]] and [[TheStoner Han]][[OurZombiesAreDifferent cock]] are dismissive of it, and [[HotScoop Piper]] and [[{{Adorkable}} Curie]] are more interested in the lighthouse itself.

* Level 9's ''Lords of Time'' has the Tooth Fairy give you a firefly as a light source.

* One puzzle in ''VideoGame/UruAgesBeyondMyst'' involves using some fireflies to light your way through a dark place.

** This is also seen in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyG3'' in the G 3.5 film ''Twinkle Wish Adventure''. In the "Dreams Do Come True" song, a group of fireflies [[https://youtu.be/m7MvQl-38rE?t=60 appear]] while the ponies are sitting around together at night, all glowing. One of them lands on Cheerilee's hoof and narrows its light to shine on the book that she's reading.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleRascals'' episode "Rascals' Revenge", Buckwheat's flashlight is essentially a jar full of fireflies attached to a stick.
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': An inventor in one episode uses jars of lightning bugs as illumination in a natural gas fissure. His lack of eyebrows attests to why.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', Basic D&D adventure B1 ''In Search of the Unknown'': In the dungeon known as the Caverns of Quasqueton, the library has cages in its walls that contain fire beetles. The beetles' bodies give off a glowing light that can be used for illumination.

* In ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', a [[MetalSlime Glowing]] [[OurZombiesAreDifferent One]] is used for a lighthouse's beacon. Each Companion has their own opinion on it: [[RobotMaid Codsworth]], [[HardboiledDetective Nick]] and [[FightingIrish Cait]] are all impressed by the idea, while [[TheFundamentalist Danse]], [=MacCready=], and Hancock are dismissive of it.

'''Hancock''': Putting a giant beacon in the middle of your settlement ain't the best way to keep a low profile.

There's some TruthInTelevision, but only as a fun activity for little kids, as they're tiny, short-lived bugs that only glow at a certain time of day during a select period of the year; you'll need to constantly resupply the jar with food for the bugs; it will take dozens of them to make a feasible light source... it truly is a {{Fantasy}} trope if you expect this to work.

There's some TruthInTelevision, but only as a pointless activity for little kids, as they're tiny, short-lived bugs that only glow at a certain time of day during a select period of the year; you'll need to constantly resupply the jar with food for the bugs; it will take dozens of them to make a feasible light source... it truly is a {{Fantasy}} trope if you expect this to work.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Lanterns filled with fireflies appear sporadically as light sources, alternating with electric lamps and [[GlowingGem glowing crystals]]. In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E16ReadItAndWeep Read It and Weep]]", Rainbow Dash puts out once such lantern by blowing its hinged door open, allowing the fireflies to fly out in a way visually reminiscent of blowing out a flame. In addition to a basic portable version most often seen, variants include overhead hospital lights in otherwise fairly high-tech scenes, streetlights on top of lampposts and projectors meant to shine out directed spotlights, all based around glass jars or cases filled with glowing insects.

* Realistically portrayed in ''Anime/GraveOfTheFireflies''. As the film's title forebodes, the firefly lamp is short-lived.

* All the fireflies in ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife'', working as a myriad of fixtures across the bug city: resting on bent nails for street lamps, flying between hollow Christmas lights for traffic signals, aluminum skirts to make spotlights, etc.

* Briefly used as a gag in ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'', when one Minion uses another as a glowstick, bending his cylindrical body to make him glow.

-->'''Danse:''' The [[FantasticRacism only thing those Glowing Ones are useful for]] [[BadassBoast is decorating the pavement when I gun them down]].
-->'''[=MacCready=]''': I don't see the point. [[FridgeLogic It's not like any ships are still sailing out there]].
-->'''Hancock''': Putting a giant beacon in the middle of your settlement ain't the best way to keep a low profile.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Lanterns filled with fireflies appear sporadically as light sources, alternating with electric lamps and glowing crystals. In "Read It and Weep", Rainbow Dash puts out once such lantern by blowing its hinged door open, allowing the fireflies to fly out in a way visually reminiscent of blowing out a flame. In addition to a basic portable version most often seen, variants include overhead hospital lights in otherwise fairly high-tech scenes, streetlights on top of lampposts and projectors meant to shine out directed spotlights, all based around glass jars or cases filled with glowing insects.

-->'''Danse:''' The [[Fantastic racism only thing those Glowing Ones are useful for]] [[BadassBoast is decorating the pavement when I gun them down]].

* The final poem in ''The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast'', "Homeward", has a glow-worm lighting the way for the revellers as they leave the Ball. Subverted, however by the accompanying illustration; while the glow-worm's abdomen is indeed glowing slightly, most of the light in the image comes from a lantern he carries.

[[folder:Film -- Animation]]
* All the fireflies in ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife'', working as a myriad of fixtures across the bug city: resting on bent nails for street lamps, flying between hollow Christmas lights for traffic signals, aluminum skirts to make spotlights etc.

[[folder:Film -- Live Action]]

[[/folder]]

* In ''Film/PitchBlack'', when the last few castaways are hiding in a rock cleft, they find several glowworm-like animals clinging to the rock. Gathered in a bottle, these provide enough illumination to ward off the bioraptors.

* By the last verse of "[[Music/CountingCrows "Accidentally in Love"]]" as used in the beginning of ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2''. Overlapping with the FairyInABottle trope, the ogre newlyweds use several as mood lighting for their mud bath.

There's some TruthInTelevision, but only as a pointless activity for little kids, as this becomes one of the most impractical things once RealityEnsues: they're tiny, short-lived bugs that only glow at a certain time of day during a select period of the year; you'll need to constantly resupply the jar with food for the bugs; it will take dozens of them to make a feasible light source... it truly is a {{Fantasy}} trope if you expect this to work.

There's some TruthInTelevision, but only as a pointless activity for little kids, as this becomes one of the most impractical things once RealityEnsues; they're tiny, short-lived bugs that only glow at a certain time of day during a select period of the year; you'll need to constantly resupply the jar with food for the bugs; it will take dozens of them to make a feasible light source... it truly is a {{Fantasy}} trope if you expect this to work.

A Sub-Trope of FantasticLightSource and BioluminescenceIsCool. A Sister Trope to GlowingFlora, were a plant is used for lighting. Overlaps with BambooTechnology and BugCatching, and rarely with FairyInABottle.

* Realistically portrayed in ''Anime/GraveoftheFireflies'' . As the film's title forebodes, the firefly lamp is short-lived.

[[folder:Comic Books]]
[[/folder]]

* ''Disney/RobinHood'': A fishbowl of fireflies hung from a fishing pole is used as a way to trick Prince John that Robin Hood (disguised as a gypsy fortune teller) can speak to spirits.
* By the last verse of ''[[Music/CountingCrows "Accidentally in Love"]]'' as used in the beginning of ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2''. Overlapping with the FairyInABottle trope, the ogre newlyweds use several as mood lighting for their mud bath.

* In ''[[WesternAnimation/DisneyFairies Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure]]'', Tink's SnarkyNonHumanSideKick, Blaze the firefly, embodies this trope in the poorly-lit parts of their adventure.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', Basic D&D adventure B1 ''In Search of the Unknown''. In the dungeon known as the Caverns of Quasqueton, the library has cages in its walls that contain fire beetles. The beetles' bodies give off a glowing light that can be used for illumination.

[[folder:Web Animation]]
[[/folder]]

* Realistically portrayed in GraveoftheFireflies . As the film's title forebodes, the firefly lamp is short-lived.

A Sub-Trope of Fantastic Light Source and BioluminescenceIsCool. A Sister Trope to GlowingFlora, were a plant is used for lighting. Overlaps with BambooTechnology and BugCatching, and rarely with FairyInABottle.