The Lampyridae are a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera, with more than 2,000 described species, many of which are light-emitting. They are soft-bodied beetles commonly called fireflies, glowworms, or lightning bugs for their conspicuous production of light, mainly during twilight, to attract mates. Light production in the Lampyridae originated as an honest warning signal that the larvae were distasteful; this was co-opted in evolution as a mating signal in the adults. In a further development, female fireflies of the genus Photuris mimic the flash pattern of Photinus species to trap their males as prey.
Photinus pyralis, known by the common names common eastern firefly and big dipper firefly, is the most common species of firefly in North America. P. pyralis is a flying and light-producing beetle with a light organ on the ventral side of its abdomen. This organism is sometimes incorrectly classified as Photuris pyralis, which likely results from mistaking the similar-sounding genus Photuris.
The rover fireflies (Photinus) are a genus of fireflies. They are the type genus of tribe Photinini in subfamily Lampyrinae. This genus contains, for example, the common eastern firefly, the most common species of firefly in North America.
Photinus carolinus is a species of rover firefly whose mating displays of synchronous flashing have fascinated both scientists and tourists. As individual females synchronize with males nearby, waves of alternating bright light and darkness seem to travel across the landscape. Firefly displays typically occur in early June near Elkmont, Tennessee, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Gatlinburg.
Photinus consanguineus is a species in the family Lampyridae ("fireflies"), in the order Coleoptera ("beetles"). It is found in North America.
Photinus dimissus is a species of firefly in the family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Photinus macdermotti, or Father Mac's firefly, is a species of firefly in the family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Photinus brimleyi is a species of firefly in the family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Photinus marginellus is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Photinus cookii is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Photinus concisus is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in Kerrville, Texas. It the species most closely related to Photinus pyralis.
Photinus ignitus is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Photinus consimilis is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Photinus indictus is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Photinus knulli is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Photinus tenuicinctus is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Photinus obscurellus is a species of firefly in the family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Photinus immaculatus is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
A lucibufagin is a defensive steroid produced by several species of firefly to make them unpalatable to predators such as spiders and birds. Certain species of firefly that do not themselves produce lucibufagins have been observed to eat other species of firefly that do produce the steroid to gain the defensive properties for themselves. The lucibufagins are a set of three related compounds, and are in the same structural class as the bufadienolides.
Lampyris iberica, the Iberian firefly, is a species of firefly. The species is endemic of the Iberian Peninsula and Southern France.
