Line #77 Main/LightingBug


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2	%%The examples on this page have been sorted alphabetically. Please help keep this page tidy by adding new ones in order. Thank you!
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4	[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyG3 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/my_little_pony_lighting_bug.jpg]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:350:Pony reading at night, by the firefly light...]]
6	Your TreehouseOfFun doesn't have any wiring installed, so you'll need something else to light things up. Lanterns are a dangerous alternative for your ArborealAbode, so we can't use any old candle...
7
8	How about we just shove some fireflies into a jar?
9
10	Maybe a NatureSpirit is more comfortable with a paper lantern of glowing bugs than a wrought iron lamp burning some oil. Or maybe some BeetleManiac thinks that BiotechIsBetter. Whatever reason for it, the idea of using lightning bugs or glowworms to see feels closer to nature than a burning wick of wax. Sometimes, it's a result of nature itself and not someone's BugCatching: perhaps a grove will light up when a swarm of shimmering butterflies resting on the walls rustle their wings.
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12	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 (and in some species, the adults don't eat at all); it will take dozens of them to make a feasible light source.
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14	A Sub-Trope of FantasticLightSource and BioluminescenceIsCool. A Sister Trope to GlowingFlora, where a plant is used for lighting. Overlaps with BambooTechnology and BugCatching, and rarely with FairyInABottle.
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16	The trope name is a {{Pun}} on "light'''n'''ing bug", which is an alternative name for fireflies. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused for]] when moths swarm around a lamp or when light acts wonky in a video game. Also not to be confused with ThunderBeetle, where the "lightning" in "lightning bug" is [[ShockAndAwe literal]] (but you could still put it in a jar anyways).
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18	!!Examples:
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20	[[foldercontrol]]
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22	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
23	* ''Anime/GraveOfTheFireflies'': Realistically portrayed -- as the film's title forebodes, the firefly lamp is short-lived.
24	[[/folder]]
25
26	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
27	* ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife'': Swarms of fireflies work as a myriad of fixtures across the bug city: resting on bent nails for street lamps, flying between hollow Christmas lights for traffic signals, wearing aluminum skirts to make spotlights, etc.
28	* ''WesternAnimation/TheAntBully'' has Zok's firefly companion, Spindle.
29	* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe1'': Briefly used as a gag when one Minion uses another as a glowstick, bending his cylindrical body to make him glow.
30	* Creator/{{Disney}}:
31	** ''WesternAnimation/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.
32	** ''WesternAnimation/DisneyFairies'': In ''Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure'', Tink's SnarkyNonHumanSideKick, Blaze the firefly, embodies this trope in the poorly lit parts of their adventure.
33	** ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood1973'': 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 UsefulNotes/{{Romani}} fortuneteller) can speak to spirits.
34	* In ''Animation/HedgehogInTheFog'', the Hedgehog briefly uses a lightning bug sitting on a stick to light his way through the fog and try to find the pot of jam he has lost. However, after a few seconds, the bug flies away.
35	* 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.
36	* ''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.
37	* In ''Animation/TreasureOfSwampCastle'', Caffrinka, Szaffi's foster mother who's believed to be a witch, summons some fireflies to light up her hut when it's getting dark.
38	[[/folder]]
39
40	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
41	* ''Film/{{Damsel}}'': In the dragon's cave, Elodie gathers glowworms in a sack to light her way.
42	* 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. [[FridgeLogic Despite the bioraptors being able to operate without issue with much greater ambient light earlier in the film]].
43	[[/folder]]
44
45	[[folder:Literature]]
46	* ''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.
47	* In ''Literature/JamesAndTheGiantPeach'', the Glow-worm provides light inside the peach and later goes on to light up the Statue of Liberty's torch, saving the government a whole lot of money that used to be spent on the torch's electrical lighting. It all works because the Glow-worm, like the rest of the bugs in the peach, has grown to an enormous size and is sapient.
48	* In ''Literature/Mermaid2011'' has an underwater version. The Sea Queen lights her palace with bioluminescent fish.
49	* Queen Medusa from the ''Literature/MermaidsOfErianaKwai'' trilogy lights areas of her castle with bioluminescent jellyfish.
50	* In ''Literature/MermaidsSong'', the merfolk use caged bioluminescent fish to light their homes.
51	* ''Literature/TheSharingKnife'' by Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold features a romance between Dag (a [[MageSpecies "Lakewalker"]]) and Fawn (a [[{{Muggle}} "Farmer"]]). At one point Fawn and Dag are on the road and are camping for the night when Dag uses his "groundsense" powers to coax several hundred--or perhaps even several ''thousand''--fireflies into a tree (and then briefly also into Fawn's hair). The light from the insects soon illuminates a love-making session.
52	* In ''Literature/TheSorcerersDaughter'', Rothbart catches a handful of bugs to be able to read a letter in the darkness. The light they provide is very dim, but he manages to discern the writing.
53	* In ''Literature/TheVazulaChronicles'', the [[UnderwaterCity Center of Culture]] is mostly lit by lanterns of bioluminescent plankton, but some street corners are lit by caged jellyfish instead.
54	* In ''Literature/WetMagic'', the Merpeople use phosphorescent fish as torches.
55	[[/folder]]
56
57	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
58	* ''Series/UltramanAce'': One episode have Ace dealing with a firefly monster, Hotarunga ("Hotaru" literally meaning firefly in Japanese) whose powers include a tail-light capable of discharging electricity, which knocks out and nearly defeats Ace in the peak of battle. The light in its tail can also fire a TractorBeam allowing it to imprison humans.
59	[[/folder]]
60
61	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
62	* ''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.
63	* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'': Flash beetles are three-foot-long insects with a pair of glowing organs on their abdomens, which continue to glow for a few days even after the insect's death. They're often used as light sources by miners, as they're safer to carry than an open flame that might ignite a pocket of flammable gases and cheaper than lamps, and they're raised by many subterranean races which keep them in cages to serve as light sources.
64	[[/folder]]
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66	[[folder:Video Games]]
67	* Level 25 of ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot3Warped'', titled ''Bug Light'', have Crash navigating his way through a dark pyramid, with his only light source being a lone firefly that Crash have to keep running ahead to catch up. Lose the firefly and you can't see a damn thing ahead of you in the level, which would likely lead to Crash running into a death trap or a killer mummy.
68	* ''VideoGame/DarkTales'': In ''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.
69	* 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 Curie are more interested in the lighthouse itself.
70	-->'''Danse:''' The [[FantasticRacism only thing those Glowing Ones are useful for]] [[BadassBoast is decorating the pavement when I gun them down]].\
71	'''[=MacCready=]''': I don't see the point. [[FridgeLogic It's not like any ships are still sailing out there]].\
72	'''Hancock''': Putting a giant beacon in the middle of your settlement ain't the best way to keep a low profile.\
73	'''Deacon''': Were lighthouses just as spooky in your time? This place gives me the creeps.
74	* ''VideoGame/{{Grounded}}'': Firefly Goo can be looted from dead fireflies and used to create hanging lamps and headlamp helmets.
75	* ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'':
76	** Lampposts can be found throughout Hallownest that are topped with glass spheres holding small, glowing insects (this despite all characters in the game being much larger anthropomorphic insects) called lumaflies. If the glass is broken, the insects flutter away. The player can buy a handheld version to light up dark areas, which is described in the store as both a light source and a companion for the road.
77	--->''What's more important? A light to guide your way, or a friend who'll stay by your side? Why not both? Take this bright little fellow as your companion and he'll light your way through the thickest darkness.''
78	** [[spoiler:The BigBad, Radiance, is a much darker example, being the [[LightIsNotGood evil goddess of light]] whose influence spawned the Infection. As shown when you use the Dream Nail, bugs under the Infection's thrall are {{Mind Rape}}d to insanity, only barely able to muster up enough sentience to ramble about the Radiance's light.]]
79	* ''VideoGame/KukoosLostPets'': a firefly-like critter called Lightbulb, can "shed some light" on the situation. He can help light the way or blind any enemies that might wanna charge into you.
80	* ''VideoGame/LordsOfTime'': Level 9 has the Tooth Fairy give you a firefly as a light source.
81	* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'': Parts of Lower Brinstar in ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' and Chozo Ruins in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' have large insect aliens that light up the rooms. If you kill them, [[BlackoutBasement the rooms will end up too dark to navigate safely]].
82	* In ''Videogame/OddworldStrangersWrath'', Zappflies are the most basic ammo-type for Stranger and serve as a way to activate electrical equipment as well as to knock enemies out for capture.
83	* ''VideoGame/OriAndTheWillOfTheWisps'': You initially need to release giant fireflies to light your way through [[BlackoutBasement Mouldwood Depths]] and stay close to them since [[DarknessEqualsDeath the darkness will kill you instantly]] if you stay in it for too long. Eventually, you'll gain the Flash ability, which eliminates the need for the fireflies.
84	* ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'' allows you to bottle some of the forests' fireflies and the Hallow biome's [[UndergroundMonkey lightning bugs]] to hang from a chain.
85	* ''VideoGame/UruAgesBeyondMyst'': One puzzle involves using some fireflies to light your way through a dark place.
86	[[/folder]]
87
88	[[folder:Western Animation]]
89	* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': "[[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheNorthernAirTemple The Northern Air Temple]]": The inventor uses jars of lightning bugs as illumination in a natural gas fissure. His lack of eyebrows attests to why.
90	* ''WesternAnimation/DawnOfTheCroods'', taking place before the [[WesternAnimation/TheCroods invention of fire]] has the characters using [[MixAndMatchCritters hybrids of deer and fireflies]] as flashlights.
91	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleRascals'': In "Rascals' Revenge", Buckwheat's flashlight is essentially a jar full of fireflies attached to a stick.
92	* ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'':
93	** ''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.
94	** ''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.
95	[[/folder]]
96
97	[[folder:Real Life]]
98	* During World War II, Japanese soldiers used the dried-out remains of bioluminescent crustaceans as a source of light. The crustaceans' bodies retained the chemicals that allowed them to glow when they were alive, and if water was poured over them they would give off a faint blue light.
99	* Bioluminescent click beetles of the genus ''Pyrophorus'' were widely used as a source of light by natives of Amazon rainforest. This was usually done by tying the live insects to their fingers and toes to serve as living lights. German explorer Freidrich von Humboldt, after whom the Humboldt current is named, wrote that he was able to read at night by the light of a dozen of these beetles.
100	[[/folder]]

Context Main / LightingBug