Thanks for another goodie from Papa Pep, he's everywhere! These little critters are very common in Cuba and South Florida where they are known as cucuyos and are very much loved, by old and young alike, similar to fire flies or lightening bugs.

In Miami they come out in large numbers and fill the trees like Christmas ornaments at certain times of year. During the day they may momentarily be mistaken for a big ugly bug but at night they are instantly recognizable. They are very polite, rarely entering the house or showing up unexpectedly somewhere or landing on your shoulder -- none of that.

It is a big family and there are many other local names for these guys too, some reflecting the clicking sound like tucu-tucus or taca-taca and they even get confused with lightening bugs luciérnagas.