The Lampyridae are a family of elateroid beetles with more than 2,000 described species, many of which are light-emitting. They are soft-bodied beetles commonly called fireflies, lightning bugs, or glowworms for their conspicuous production of light, mainly during twilight, to attract mates. Light production in the Lampyridae is thought to have originated as a warning signal that the larvae were distasteful. This ability to create light was then co-opted as a mating signal and, in a further development, adult female fireflies of the genus Photuris mimic the flash pattern of the Photinus beetle in order to trap their males as prey.
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.
Photuris pensylvanica, known by the common names Pennsylvania firefly, lightning bug, dot-dash firefly and glowworm, is a species of firefly from the United States and Canada. It is also widely known under the Latin name Photuris pennsylvanica, although the original spelling, with one "n", was common in Latinized names of the time and remains the valid name.
Photinus macdermotti, or Father Mac's firefly or Mr. Mac, is a species of firefly in the family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
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.
Mantura floridana is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America. Larvae feed on Fallopia scandens. They appear yellow through the leaf epidermis, as the larvae are leaf miners.
Apotrepus densicollis is a species of true weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae and is found in North America. Adults are associated with dead saguaro.
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.
Lyreus is a genus of cylindrical bark beetles in the family Zopheridae. There are at least three described species in Lyreus.
Microphotus angustus is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Pyractomena lucifera is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Microphotus dilatatus is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Anisotoma blanchardi is a species of round fungus beetle in the family Leiodidae. It is found in North America. It feeds on slime molds such as Lycogala epidendrum and multiple species of Stemonitis.
Pyropyga minuta, or flower elf, is a species of day-active firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Photinus tenuicinctus, or thinly-girdled firefly or Ozark spark, is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in the Ozarks in Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Nicagus obscurus is a species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is found in North America. Larvae can be found in the grooves of aspen driftwood. Adults emerge in August.
Onthophagus alluvius is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is native to the southern United States, including Texas. It has been observed using dog dung.
Pteroptyx is a genus of fireflies in the subfamily Luciolinae found in Southeast Asia. It has long been noted for the ability to perform synchronous flashing, though not all species synchronize. These synchronizing species have been found on so-called 'firefly trees' and created a growing firefly-watching tour industry in some regions. Species of the genus have been identified in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Hong Kong.
Photuris lucicrescens, the long crescendo Photuris, July comet, big scary, or big Lucy, is a species of beetle in the Lampyridae family. It is found in the eastern United States.
