Coleoptera99 species

Family Fireflies (Lampyridae)

Lampyridae is a family in the order Coleoptera. Browse 99 named species recorded in this family, or open an individual profile for its available identification and natural-history information.

Species in Lampyridae (99)

Aspisoma ignitum

Identification: dull green in life (Santiago-Blay and Medina-Gaud 1986) In 1935, Josef N. Knull collected one spmn at Brownsville, TX (Fall 1937). This sp. has never been recollected in s. TX, not even during extensive beetle surveys across Cameron a

Aspisoma quasidiaphana

Identification: similar to A. diaphana (Gorham), and both species are sympatric; they can be distinguished by their coloration (Figs. 82; 85) and primarily by the development and morphology of the aedeagus. Type Locality: Río Máquinas, Ver. 19.11.82,

Southwest Spring Firefly

Bicellonycha wickershamorum

Identification: Note the black elytra with yellow margins and elytral suture. Dark black median pronotal vitta, acute hind pronotal corners, all contrast with Photinus knulli (the only Photinus in that area, having concolorous grey elytra, small pron

California Glowworm

Ellychnia californica

Identification: Sides of median black area of pronotum straight, diverging from apex to base, with a small antebasal lobe extending into roseate area; in the sympatric E. megista , the black area is subparallel to the base, where it slightly widens (

Winter Firefly

Ellychnia corrusca

Winter Firefly (Ellychnia corrusca) is a species in the family Lampyridae, commonly known as fireflies, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Lampyrinae, tribe Lucidotini, suborder Polyphaga, superfamily E

Ellychnia facula

Identification: Lateral vitta of the pronotum wider than black margin, typically with two dark spots along inner margin in the discal area (sometimes merged with discal spot). Elytron with two costae.

Ellychnia flavicollis

Identification: all-orange pronotum distinctive within the genus • Holotype Has fairly large lights for a diurnal species and they need to be photographed in the dark or otherwise measured to get some idea of how bright they are. Lights of male and f

Ellychnia greeni

Identification: Separated from similar species in its range by the following characters:

Ellychnia megista

Identification: can be distinguished by black pubescence; CA distribution; convex median portion of pronotum finely punctate and shining; pronotum bicolored; with broad, uninterrupted, red, sub-lateral vittae from apex to base; narrow black lateral e

Glow-worm

Lampyris noctiluca

The glow-worm is not really a worm at all, in fact it is a beetle. This is most obvious when you see the male. Lampyris noctiluca presents a conspicuous sexual dimorphism. The males are winged, with brown elytra, a clearer pronotum and a large brown

Lucidota punctata

Identification: Similar to L. atra , but much smaller, markings on pronotum somewhat different; elytra lack costae (raised ridges) and have a more coarse granulate to punctate surface pink vittae of pronotum usually tiny, often subtriangular uncommon

Microphotus chiricahuae

Identification: Quoting Green, p. 88 : This species is closely related to M. pecosensis, from which it differs greatly in the much broader median lobe of the aedeagus and the non-sinuate ventral inner margins of the lateral lobes. Externally it is no

Microphotus decarthrus

Identification: The antennae have 10 segments. M fragilis is similar but has larger eyes and Green says maybe fragilis isn't a legitimate species.

Microphotus dilatatus

Identification: our most abundant sp., distinguished from all others (except M. octarthrus ) by the short elytra; plus the hind angles of the pronotum are prominent; in M. octarthrus , elytral tips infuscate and pronotal base straight

Microphotus octarthrus

Identification: our smallest sp., easily recognized by its short elytra with infuscate tips, together with the truncate base of the pronotum. Det. B. Pfeiffer, 2016

Nelsonphotus aridus

Identification: "You can see a picture of the holotype at my website . Dried specimens lose pronotal convexity and the brilliant color. Only a few male specimens are known. The female is unknown and will be larviform." --Joe Cicero

Paraphausis eximius

females & larvae unknown; males fly by day but do have two tiny lights on last abdominal segment (all the info here from Dr Cicero's comment )

Phausis inaccensa

Identification: last key couplet: Brunneous to yellowish brown Phausis inaccensa males have no true lanterns (Faust poster) Yellowish brown. Head and median pronotal spot piceous. Elytra olivaceous the lateral margins obscurely paler. Abdomen dark br

Phausis luminosa 0

Phausis luminosa

Holotype. Male, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. No date, collected by Chapman Grant. Two male paratypes, Lawrence Co., Arkansas, collected by B. C. Marshall. Female unknown.

Blue Ghost Firefly

Phausis reticulata

Identification: One of three luminescent species in the genus. According to the description by Fender, males of this all-brown species have large eyes, a short second antennomere (less than half the length of the third), semi-elliptical pronotum (two

Phausis rhombica

Identification: Rhomboid pronotum distinctive. Body all-black. Transparent windows large, nearly meeting. The similarly shaped Ph. inaccensa is brownish and eastern in distribution.

Lesser Glowworm

Phosphaenus hemipterus

Identification: the only known lampyrid with both sexes flightless; adults are diurnal earliest record in our area: NS 1947; the only lampyrid to have been introduced to NA; dispersal abilities of the beetle are limited, so different location where i

Photinus ardens

Identification: Pronotum with broader median dark vitta, its lateral margins somewhat irregular; pale area each side discolored by nubilous brownish or piceous spots, sometimes completely obscured. Form more elongate

Photinus bivulnerus

Identification: pronotal structure distinct, and minute light organs in the second-to-last abdominal segment visible just aft the elytra (comment by J. Cicero)

Photinus concisus

Identification: Pronotum without central dark spot. Elytra black; sutural bead yellow; lateral explanate margin yellow, becoming fuscous and black apically. Det. M. A. Quinn, 2016 Type Locality: 1 mi. NE Kerrville on RR 16, Kerr Co., Texas.

Photinus consimilis

Identification: Form similar to P. pyralis , less elongate. Pronotum with well defined median dark vitta attaining base, slightly broader in front; each side fulvous. Scutellum and mesonotal areas dark piceous. (abbreviated description) ( 4 ) Type Lo

Photinus cookii

Identification: diurnal sp. lacking lanterns, thus the small eyes, see Green's description PARATYPE non-luminous , seems to be a very rare sp. Type Locality: Crailhope, Green Co., KY: holotype, 14 paratypes, 19 females, VII-1 to 18-1946, Carl Cook (C

Photinus dimissus

Identification: prothoracic spot elongate, wider in front [ephasis added]; apex and sides dusky, strongly punctured; scutel dusky; male with light organs as usual, fifth ventral and following segments entirely luminous; female light organs entirely w

Photinus granulatus 0

Photinus granulatus

Identification: This species has the rather short antennae and large eyes of dimissus and collustrans , with which it must be associated. The granulate pronotum is a unique character in our species; each granule bears a fine puncture at its summit. T

Photinus immaculatus

Identification: Pronotum without median dark spot, scutellum and mesonotal areas pale fulvous. Form as in P. marginellus . Pronotum without median dark spot, Scutellum and mesonotal areas fulvous. Elytra dark piceous brown, sutural bead distinctly fl

Photinus indictus

Identification: MALE, Form similar to P. consanguineus . Pronotum with median dark vitta attaining base and sometimes nearly apex, one-third to two-fifths as wide as convex disk, slightly narrowing posteriorly, sometimes abruptly expanding near base.

Photinus knulli

Identification: differs from other members of the P. consanguineus group by male genitalia the only lekking firefly known in North America (Cicero 1983)

Photinus obscurellus

Identification: Very much resembles P. ardens , but differs essentially in having the base of the thorax emarginate. (LeConte, 1851) described from one spmn coll'ed in the "Missouri Territory."

Photinus punctulatus

Identification: one of the most easily recognized of the Nearctic fauna. The pale pygidium, contrasting sharply with the preceding dark piceons tergites, is duplicated only in the narrowly elongate P. lineellus , occurring in the extreme Southeast. T

Photinus sabulosus

courtship flash patterns: males: quick flash every 4 seconds female response, quick flash a half second after the male's flash ( 3 )

Photinus stellaris

Identification: Elytra entirely black (i.e. lacking pale margins). Pronotum entirely rufous, or rarely somewhat dusky anteriorly Form elongate, as in P. collustrans seems more elongated than other spp. with pale pronota... Described from a series of

Photinus tanytoxus

Identification: 3- Composite drawing ; pronotum showing dark coloration extending posteriorly along midline as found in some individuals of tanytoxus n. sp. and collustrans LeConte; [emphasis added] left elytron with sutural bead as in tanytoxus , ri

Photinus tenuicinctus

Identification: unique in having the lateral pale border of the elytra confined to the outer edge of the explanate margin. pronotal vitta varies from one-third to three-fifths as wide as the convex disk, and is usually broad at the basal extremity, s

Photinus texanus

Identification: Pronotum with median dark vitta attaining base but not apex [but see type], widest in front, narrowest just before base at middle nearly one-third as wide as convex surface; anterior coarsely punctate area dusky medially. Scutellum an

Photuris billbrowni

Identification: Flash Pattern: weak 1 sec double flash The FP is a pair of short flashes emitted so rapidly that they appear to be a hitched single flash; this FP is emitted at variable intervals averaging 1.0 to 1.8 second at temperatures near 28°/8

Photuris divisa

Identification: the most atypical or unusual of the North American Photuris pronotal disc with a large dark spot on both sides, third joint of the antennae is longer than the 2d. Det. Joe Cicero, 2022 Type Locality: Missouri Territory

Photuris falli

Identification: Pronotum entirely pale yellow ( brunnipennis group) Elytra entirely black. Labial margin triangulate. Metasternum concolorous with yellow head and thoracic sternites above and below. Fifth ventral sternite with pale posterior margin,

Photuris hebes

Identification: small size (about 11 mm. long) and have relatively long antennae, and pale (sometimes slightly infuscate) labrum, but exhibit considerable variation in the extent of the elytral vitta, which usually passes the middle, although it is s

Photuris katrinae

Identification: large size, tawny color, and feeble vittagram, or its complete absence, should make identification certain Type Locality: Lost Maples State Park, Bandera County, Texas, collected 8 July 1992.

Photuris salina

Identification: See Photuris hebes . Small size (9-12 mm long), shorter antennae than in hebes , and labrum is practically black (pale to slightly infuscated in hebes ) and feebly tridentate. Pronotal vitta hourglass-shaped. Elytra variable, light to

Photuris versicolor

Identification: The useful characters of the original description are: large size; black antennae with the articles a little pale at base; black elytra with margin, suture, and a short vitta yellow; black legs with knees yellow. (but note that Barber

Pleotomus nigripennis

Identification: females should be all pink with short elytra and bipectinate antennae, but they remain undiscovered (Joe Cicero, comment, 2013)

Pollaclasis bifaria

Identification: Antennae with two processes from the base of each joint. rare, local, relictual (?) ( 6 )

Pyractomena borealis

Identification: distinguished by the large size, dark color, narrow (sometimes obliterated) pale lateral border of the elytron, and dusky epipleuron.

Pyractomena ecostata

Identification: The following combination of characters is unique for this species: nearly glabrous dorsal surface, short subcylindric antennae (three-quarters length of pronotum), truncate apex of pronotum, pale costae of elytron (Green 1957)

Pyractomena linearis

Identification: Body narrowly elongate, glabrous. Color pale overall, median stripe brown, pale lateral border of elytron narrow.

Pyractomena lucifera

Identification: This narrowly elongate species is readily identified by the uniform golden pubescence of the pronotum. Also, the black margins of the pronotum do not reach the posterolateral angles.

Pyractomena punctiventris

Identification: Det. B. Pfeiffer, 2016 Type series: "Texas; three males; Austin, Mrs. V. O. King; Bosque Co., G. W. Belfrage" (LeConte, 1878)

Pyractomena vexillaria

two spmns in the C.A. Triplehorn Insect Collection ( 4 ) examined by Green that were collected by D. J. & J. N. Knull in Val Verde Co., Texas in 1947 & 1948. Type Locality: Veracruz, Mex.

Pyropyga minuta

Identification: pronotum pale with median vitta subparallel-sided, usually somewhat expanded near base extreme genitalic variability suggests a species complex

Pyropyga nigricans

Identification: dark pronotal border varies to narrow and paler or indistinct, especially in specimens from Arizona. Complete elimination of the dark border is rare, but has been noted in a series from Corpus Christi, Texas. rather uncommon east of t