How to Make a Firefly Lamp

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: June 20, 2021

Firefly lamps are a beautiful and exciting way to light a room or porch. There are various types to choose from. Perhaps best of all, learn about where and how to safely capture fireflies to hang out with for the evening. For a more permanent option, consider using string lights to make electric firefly jars. Finally, for a magical and multicolored firefly jar, use glow sticks to coat the inside of a jar with firefly-like luminescence.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Wrangling Real Fireflies for a Living Lamp

1
Look for fireflies near water. Fireflies live in various habitats and various regions of the world. They are most often found near standing water, especially water sources in forests, fields, and the areas in between. Ponds, streams, and marshes are good places to look, especially if there is tall grass nearby.^{[1]
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- In seasonal areas, they are usually most prevalent right after the rainy season.
- In the U.S., fireflies are found in most states east of the Rocky Mountains.
2
Catch fireflies early in the evening. The secret to catching fireflies is starting just before sunset. Most fireflies will start to glow before it’s completely dark, and the day’s final rays of sunlight will help you see them when they’re not lit up as well. Further, fireflies only glow for about an hour after sunset.
- Use your hands instead of a net, as nets are more likely to injure the fireflies. Make cups with both of your hands and close them around a firefly like you’re trying to cover a tennis ball.
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3
Leave the flashlight inside. Artificial light will cause fireflies to glow less, and it will make it harder for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. If you do wish to use a light for safety, opt for a camping headlight with a red light setting.
- Remain quiet and move calmly while hunting fireflies. In addition to artificial light, loud noises and sudden movements will frighten them away.
4
House the fireflies in a jar with a safe cover. Any type of translucent jar will work. Glass is best for enjoying the light the fireflies produce. Do not use the jar’s lid - with or without holes. Instead, fasten a thin piece of cloth or a very fine metal mesh around the jar’s top with a rubber band.
- Before placing the fireflies in the jar, place an apple slice and a piece of paper towel soaked with water at the bottom of the jar. This will keep them fed and hydrated.
5
Keep the fireflies captive for only few hours. Place the jar itself in a warm, dark, and moist location. Keep artificial light away from the jar, as this will diminish the insects’ desire to glow. They will glow the most if they are placed in a location where they can see other fireflies glowing.
- Let the fireflies go the same evening you catch them. They will glow the most right after your catch them, and will glow less and less until released.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using String Lights to Make a Firefly Jar

1
Fill a glass jar with string lights. You can use the string lights commonly used to decorate Christmas trees to make a lamp that emulates the appearance of fireflies in a jar. Get a glass jar of any color and shape. A simple mason jar with a metal lid can work, but so can a glass jar with a flip-top lid.^{[2]
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- The easiest option is turning the jar upside down and running the plug out of the jar’s opening.
- You can also add a hole for the plug end of the string lights to leave the jar. Depending on the material, it may be easiest to poke or drill a hole in the lid. You can also get drill bits made to drill holes in glass.
- Alternatively, use battery-operated lights and hide the battery storage area within the jar, perhaps beneath the lid. This will give you a stand-alone light fixture you can put wherever you like, and even move around.
2
Make a light fixture out of a metal can. Filling a metal can with string lights can create a lighting effect on the walls of a room that looks a bit like fireflies glowing in the distance. Coffee tins are especially good, as they have strong metal and the opening does not have sharp edges. Remove any product label, and use a marker to cover the can in dots that are about the length of paper clip away from one another.^{[3]
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- Paint the can, if you so desire, in whatever color or pattern you wish. Spray paint will be the easiest and fastest method.
- Fill the can with a string of lights and run the plug out of the can’s opening, or make your own hole elsewhere.
3
Position electric firefly jars in prominent locations. For instance, place metal firefly jars somewhere they can project light onto the surrounding walls. Glass or metal firefly jars can be hung from the ceiling, or placed on tables around a room. These fixtures can make especially enjoyable porch decorations, allowing you turn the overhead fixture off and immerse yourself in firefly-like lighting.
- If you intend to place your electric firefly light outdoors, consider powering them with solar-powered string lights. Fasten the solar panel to the top of the jar and simply place the fixture on an outdoor table for an automatic evening light source.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making a Temporary Firefly Jar with Glow Sticks

1
Use glow stick liquid to make a multicolored firefly jar. Another way to make a firefly jar without actual fireflies is by coating the inside of a jar with glow stick liquid. Acquire a glass jar with a resealable lid, such as a mason jar. Clean and dry the jar, inside and out.^{[4]
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- Crack glow sticks to activate them. Cut off one end and empty them into your jar. Use several different colors, but add them one at a time.
- Try to avoid direct contact with the liquid from a glow stick. That said, the liquid is considered non-toxic and will only cause mild skin irritation. Wash it off with soap and water if contact occurs
- If a substantial amount of the liquid somehow gets in someone's mouth or eyes, flush with water and contact poison control.
2
Add glitter. Glitter will both reflect and refract the light in the jar, creating an ambient, magical effect. Add a bit of glitter and swirl the jar in between each time you add liquid from another glow stick. You can also simply add as much glitter as you want at any point, but doing so incrementally helps the glitter mix with the glowing liquid.^{[5]
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- Different colored glitter may add a further layer of color and complexity to your jar.
3
Shake the jar. Once you’ve added as many glow sticks and as much glitter as you want, cap the jar and carefully shake it with both hands. Continue shaking until the glowing liquid and glitter is dispersed evenly on the inside walls of the jar.^{[6]
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- For a smaller jar, a half dozen glow sticks may be plenty. For larger jars, you may want to use as many as a dozen glow sticks.
4
Place the jars somewhere dark. The jars will glow the brightest as soon as they are made, and will slowly lose their glow. Try making a few and placing them in the corners of a dark room for an especially enjoyable lighting effect.^{[7]
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- For maximum appeal, place the jars near a blacklight. Blacklight can also be used to “recharge” a glow stick firefly jar.
- Aside from novelty shops, light bulb retailers, and online, you can also find handheld blacklight bulbs and fixtures at pet supplies stores.