Q:I found these long, brown bugs that have two glowing lights near their heads that are walking around at night. What are they?

M.L., Miami

A: The insects you found are a species of click beetle and the adults produce light called bioluminescence. Few insects other than fireflies have this ability. They are called click beetles because when they are placed on their back, they snap together to right themselves, which produces a clicking sound.

Although the larvae (immature stage) of most click beetles eat plant roots and are called wireworms, the larvae of this species feed on the grubs of the May and June beetles.

Q:We have five large royal palms. All of a sudden, they are dropping nice green fronds. Can you recognize the problem?

N.S., Miami

A: It's lightning damage. If the palm took a direct hit, all the green fronds collapse and the newest frond (the spear leaf) stays up. Usually the palm is dead if you see this. With an indirect hit, the symptoms take longer to show up and the palm may recover if the bud was not killed. Only time will tell.

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