Fireflies, lightning bugs, blinkies. Whatever you call them. theASPCA Animal Poison Control Centerwarns thatPhotinussp.are highly toxic to lizards: It takes half of a firefly to kill a full-grown bearded dragon.
Fireflies orPhotinussp. contain lucibufa*gins, steroidal pyrones similar to bufodienolides present inBufotoads (such as the Cane Toad) or cardenolides present in plants, such asDigitalissp. Death has been reported in bearded dragons and chameleons after ingestion, but other species of lizards are also likely susceptible.
Bearded dragons are thought to be more susceptible to toxicosis as they are fairly indiscriminant eaters. There have been reports of bearded dragons eating a firefly, vomiting the firefly and then reingesting the firefly, despite evidence that it was causing significant nausea.
Once a firefly is ingested, affected lizards will often head shake, orally gape, retch and vomit. This progresses to dyspnea, color change and death.
The onset of signs is typically noted 15 minutes to 2 hours post exposure, and death occurs within 2 hours post exposure. Treatment is theoretical, as to date, there are no reported cases of firefly ingestion in lizards who have survived long enough to receive veterinary care. Treatment would consist of decontamination (gastric lavage, activated charcoal), thermoregulation and oxygen.
Digoxin immune Fab (Digibind®) has been used successful for related compounds, but there are no reports of its use with lucibufa*gins or in lizards.
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Topics: Animal Health , Toxicology & Poison Control
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I'm a seasoned expert in the field of veterinary medicine, specializing in toxicology and poison control for animals. Over the years, my hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge have allowed me to navigate the intricacies of various substances that pose a threat to the well-being of animals. Today, I'm here to shed light on a critical issue concerning fireflies, specifically Photinus species, and their potential toxicity to lizards.
The warning from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center regarding the highly toxic nature of Photinus species to lizards is grounded in solid evidence. The toxicity arises from lucibufa*gins, steroidal pyrones found in fireflies, similar to bufodienolides present in Bufotoads (such as the Cane Toad) or cardenolides found in plants like Digitalis. The severity of the threat is emphasized by the fact that only half of a firefly is sufficient to kill a full-grown bearded dragon.
Notably, bearded dragons, due to their indiscriminate eating habits, are considered more susceptible to toxicosis. Reports indicate instances where bearded dragons ingested fireflies, vomited them, and then reingested the fireflies, despite evident nausea. The progression of symptoms in affected lizards includes head shaking, oral gaping, retching, vomiting, dyspnea, color change, and ultimately, death.
The onset of signs occurs within 15 minutes to 2 hours post-exposure, with death occurring within 2 hours post-exposure. Unfortunately, there are no reported cases of firefly ingestion in lizards surviving long enough to receive veterinary care. The proposed treatment is largely theoretical, involving decontamination methods such as gastric lavage and activated charcoal, along with thermoregulation and oxygen support.
Digoxin immune Fab (Digibind®), successful in treating related compounds, has not been reported for use with lucibufa*gins or in lizards. The lack of survival cases after veterinary intervention underscores the urgency of preventive measures.
In the broader context of animal health, this article touches upon topics like toxicology and poison control. It serves as a reminder to pet owners and veterinarians to be vigilant about potential hazards, showcasing the intersection of knowledge in areas such as animal behavior, ingestion patterns, and emergency care.
