Lightning bugs eat nector as adults. The young are actually beneficial. They eat slugs.
So, you want lots of lightning bugs.

I agree. Lightning bugs-fireflies are among the good guys! You WANT them around, and they don't eat your plants.

And as for downy leatherwings/soldier beetles, they're also good guys! Their diet is almost exclusively aphids.

So if you have a few nibbled plants and suspect slugs, cabbage worms and flea beetles, you're probably right. Sluggo will get rid of the slugs, Bt for young cabbage worms, and Neem, Sabadilla, Rotenone, and Pyrethrins for flea beetles, or food grade diatomaceous earth. Every one of those treatments is organic, though directions should be followed.

I was wondering if slugs had any known predators... Good to know the lightning bugs are doing their jobs!
Sluggo is on the list. So far not great luck with beer traps, I also resorted to a ring of pennies around various plants. Can't be quite sure how that's working. Neem I have and use on occasion. We've had a lot of rain so whatever I do washes off right away. Is there any particular product containing pyrethrins that you reccomend?
Thanks,
Laura

"Lightning bugs eat nector as adults. The young are actually beneficial. They eat slugs.
So, you want lots of lightning bugs."

I did not know this! Learn something new everyday! ;)
Good to know as my yard looks like a light show when it starts to get dark!

Now I know where all the slugs went!!!!! In Summer 2009 we had "the invasion of the lightening bugs (fireflies)"!! Sure we had a few every year but in 2009 they came back by the thousands (really). This year (2010) they are also back by the thousands. I had slugs but not a huge slug problem 4-5 years ago. Now - only 1 or 2 slugs seen this year. We also do not spray anything on our 'lawn' to kill bugs and our neighbors have stopped Chem**Lawn service since the economy went downhill. Perhaps this is what keeps the population of lightening bugs in top form!! (BTW we do spray the veggies when needed but why spray grass??)

REALLY happy to know lightening bugs are good guys!!!

DL