lanternfly

Questions

What does lanternfly mean?

Any of various insects in the family Fulgoridae, especially in the genera Fulgora and Pyrops, with brilliant coloration.

Where does lanternfly come from?

From lantern + fly. The name came about because of claims that some Fulgoridae are luminous at night. European and Euro-American writers, including Maria Sibylla Merian and Carl Linnaeus, said that the claims came from Indigenous peoples in South America. (Merian had visited Suriname.) Various names, including lanternfly, the specific name laternaria, and various other (current or former) scientific names, came out of this belief. Compare names for insects that do in fact glow at night: firefly, lightning bug, glow fly, and glowworm.

How to pronounce lanternfly

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “lanternfly”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “lanternfly”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “lanternfly” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.