Photuris is a genus of fireflies. These are the femme fatale lightning bugs of North America. This common name refers to a behavior of the adult females of these predatory beetles; they engage in aggressive mimicry, imitating the light signals of other firefly species' females to attract mates – but Photuris use it to attract, kill and eat the unsuspecting males of those other species. Their flashing bioluminescent signals seem to have evolved independently and eventually adapted to those of their prey, mainly unrelated Lampyrinae, such as Photinus or Pyractomena.
The Photurinae are a subfamily of fireflies (Lampyridae). They contain many of the well-known North American species, such as the Pennsylvania firefly, state insect of Pennsylvania. They are among the "flashing" fireflies known as "lightning bugs" in North America, although they are not too distantly related to the flashing fireflies in the Lampyrinae; as the most basal lineages of that subfamily do not produce light at all, the Photurinae's flashing signals seem to be convergent evolution.
The Luciolinae are among the largest subfamilies of fireflies (Lampyridae). They seem to be all "flashing" fireflies. They are a diverse lineage, spreading throughout the warm parts of Eurasia into temperate Europe and East Asia and south to the Australian region.
The Photinini are a large tribe of fireflies in the subfamily Lampyrinae. Photinus pyralis is famous in biotechnology for its luciferase gene. This is sometimes employed as a marker gene; genetically modified organisms which contain it start to glow like the firefly when brought in contact with a luciferin-containing medium. Firefly luciferases differ slightly between taxa, resulting in differently colored light and other properties, and in most cases where "firefly luciferase" is used in some application or study, it is the specific luciferase of P. pyralis.
The Lampyrini are a tribe of fireflies in the large subfamily Lampyrinae. The lineage formerly separated as Pleotomini seems to be a specialized offshoot of the Lampyrini not too distant from the type genus Lampyris and is therefore included here. This tribe occurs throughout the Holarctic and contains the typical "glowing" or "continuous-light" fireflies from that region. Some otherwise very advanced Lampyrini, like species in Paraphausis and Pyrocoelia, have degenerated light-producing organs again and communicate primarily or even exclusively with pheromones like the ancestors of the fireflies did.
The Lamprocerini are a tribe of fireflies in the large subfamily Lampyrinae, though at least some Lamprocerini species are not bioluminescent in the adult stage. They are generally neotropical, found in North America only as vagrants.
Microphotus is a genus of fireflies in the family Lampyridae. Microphotus are usually found in the southwestern region of the United States of America and adjoining parts of Mexico. There are seven described species in Microphotus in the United States and three more in Mexico.
Pyractomena is a genus of fireflies in the family Lampyridae. There are at least 20 described species in Pyractomena.
Aspisoma ignitum is a species of firefly in the family Lampyridae. It is found in the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. Its presence is uncertain in the United States.
Aspisoma is a genus of fireflies in the family Lampyridae. There are at least 70 described species in Aspisoma.
Pyropyga is a genus of primarily North American fireflies in the beetle family Lampyridae. There are about 13 described species in Pyropyga. It is among the genera of Lampyridae where both sexes of adults have no bioluminescent organs.
Pyractomena lucifera is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Pyractomena angulata is a species of firefly in the family of beetles known as Lampyridae. It is found in North America and is the state insect of Indiana. It is also known as Say's firefly named after Thomas Say, and the angle candled firefly.
Pyractomena dispersa is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Pyractomena linearis is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Bicellonycha is a genus of fireflies in the beetle family Lampyridae. There are more than 40 described species in Bicellonycha.
Pyractomena marginalis is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Lamprigera is a poorly resolved genus of fireflies or glow-worms in the subfamily Lampyrinae, possibly placed in tribe Photinini. Species of the genus Lamprigera are found in Asia.
Paraphotinus is a genus of Central American fireflies, distinguished from the closely related Photinus by the presence of ventral branches in their aedeagal parameres. It was recently elevated to genus level.
