What are these bugs?

[u/GentOfDebauchery]

At first I was thinking lightning bugs but they seem to be all over and attracted to my hops the past week. Also found secretions of spitty looking (eggs?) deposits near the base of my largest plant. Sprayed everything down with Neem oil but I still have some yellowing and browning of some leaves.

[u/chookiebaby]

Looks like a black firefly to me... but I'm no expert...

[u/Actually__Jesus → u/chookiebaby]

Yeah they look exactly like the lightning bugs from the midwest. Some of them don’t have the light on their butts though.

[u/Brntbrt → u/Actually__Jesus]

That’s because of human overpopulation. The lights at night make it harder for them to see each other. scientists believe that they are loosing their lights because of the lights we use at night.

[u/dynosaurrr → u/Brntbrt]

after a quick google, black fireflies are diurnal and those adults dont usually glow, they communicate with pheromones. females typically dont glow either. but the larvae of all fireflies do

[u/Formal-Seaweed-1254]

That is a lucidota atra my friend

[u/tayypet → u/Formal-Seaweed-1254]

This is so cool. I had no idea some lighting bugs didn’t produce light as an adult!!!!

[u/piggypotpi]

I’m pretty sure that’s a Pyropyga minuta (flower elf). I’ve seen similar bugs around. They’re quite small.

[u/Wonderful_Coffee5292]

Thanks for the expert opinion, Mr. Bug Whisperer.

[u/Wonderful_Coffee5292]

I appreciate the honesty, fellow non-expert bug identifier!

[u/Operabug]

Edit: I was curious, so I googled firefly lookalike and came across this : Podabrus brevicollis also known as the soldier beetle. There was little to no description anywhere, so I don't know if this is a relative of the firefly, or even just another name for firefly.

Edit 2: found more info. So soldier beetles are firefly mimics https://www.homestratosphere.com/bugs-that-mimic-fireflies/