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 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.
Glowworm or glow-worm is the common name for various groups of insect larvae and adult larviform females that glow through bioluminescence. They include the European common glow-worm and other members of the Lampyridae, but bioluminescence also occurs in the families Elateridae, Phengodidae and Rhagophthalmidae among beetles; as well as members of the genera Arachnocampa, Keroplatus and Orfelia among keroplatid fungus gnats.
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.
Pleotomus nigripennis is a species of firefly in the family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Pleotomus is a genus of fireflies in the family Lampyridae. There are about five described species in Pleotomus.
Pyractomena lucifera is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Photuris fairchildi is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.This species is known to use aggressive mimicry in order to lure in and prey upon the males of other species of fireflies. This species inhabits marshes, spruce forests, and other low-lying swampy areas.
Pleotomus davisii is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Pyractomena dispersa is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Photinus consimilis, or cattail flash-train firefly, is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in eastern North America.
Pyropyga minuta is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in Central America, North America, and South America.
Pyractomena linearis is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Photinus punctulatus 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.
Pterotus obscuripennis, commonly known as the Douglas fir glowworm, is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found along the western coast of North America, from Washington to California. Adult males are smaller, alate, capable of fight, have an elaborate antenna morphology, and are totally non-luminous. Adult females are larger, fully larviform and flightless, and cream to light golden brown in color, and luminous with photo organs on the seventh and eighth abdominal segment. Larvae are largely black in color, with cream to white coloration in the spaces between the body segments, and are luminous and predatory on slugs.
Microphotus pecosensis is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Pyropyga decipiens is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Ellychnia californica, known generally as the California glowworm or western firefly, is a species of firefly in the beetle 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.
Pyractomena marginalis is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
