| Pyropyga nigricans | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Lampyridae |
| Genus: | Pyropyga |
| Species: | P. nigricans |
| Binomial name | |
| Pyropyga nigricans (Say, 1823) | |
Pyropyga nigricans is a species of firefly in the family of beetles known as Lampyridae. [1] [2] [3] [4] It is found in Central America, North America and central Europe. [1]
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 Elateroidea are a large superfamily of beetles. It contains the familiar click beetles, fireflies, and soldier beetles and their relatives. It consists of about 25,000 species.
The Rhagophthalmidae are a family of beetles within the superfamily Elateroidea. Members of this beetle family have bioluminescent organs on the larvae, and sometimes adults, and are closely related to the Phengodidae, though historically they have been often treated as a subfamily of Lampyridae, or as related to that family. Some recent evidence suggested that they were the sister group to the Phengodidae, and somewhat distantly related to Lampyridae, whose sister taxon was Cantharidae, but more reliable genome-based phylogenetics placed as the sister group to the Lampyridae.
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.
Brachylampis blaisdelli is a species of firefly in the family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Pleotomus nigripennis is a species of firefly in the family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Pyractomena is a genus of fireflies in the family Lampyridae. There are at least 20 described species in Pyractomena.
Brachylampis is a genus of fireflies in the family Lampyridae. There are at least two described species in Brachylampis.
Megalostomis is a genus of case-bearing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. There are at least three described species in Megalostomis.
Pleotomus is a genus of fireflies in the family Lampyridae. There are about five described species in Pleotomus.
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.
Megalostomis pyropyga is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Pyropyga modesta is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in Central America and North America.
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.
Pyropyga minuta is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in Central America, North America, and South America.
Pyropyga decipiens is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America.
Paraphausis is a genus of fireflies in the family of beetles known as Lampyridae, containing a single described species, Paraphausis eximius.
Phausis inaccensa, also known as the shadow ghost, is a species of firefly in the family of beetles known as Lampyridae. It is found in central and eastern United States. The larviform females of the species are bioluminescent, whereas the males are winged but lanternless.
Microphotus fragilis is a species of firefly in the family of beetles known as Lampyridae. It is found in North America. They tend to be more easily found in desert landscapes. This species of firefly is known for its huge eyes that are accompanied by a strongly convex pronotum.
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