Pleotomus pallens
This record describes Pleotomus pallens (species). Recorded family: Lampyridae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Type adult female
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Elateroidea
- Family
- Lampyridae (Fireflies)
- Subfamily
- Lampyrinae
- Tribe
- Pleotomini
- Genus
- Pleotomus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
sc US (mostly NM-TX-OK, singletons from KS & MO) ?AL )) / Mex Lloyd reported Pleotomus pallens from east-central Alabama as "rare, "never" seen except in traps." , but might this have been Pleotomus davisii ??
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on snails; adult females do not feed (King 1880)
Life History
The rearmost ventral segments of this [adult female] were glowing a fluorescent green inches above the ground around 11pm. The critter was under a short juniper tree, aiming its abdomen out towards a large clearing. (J. Lapp, pers. obs., 2012)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Pleotomus pallens LeConte 1866
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Pleotomus pallens. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Pleotomus pallens (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Pleotomus pallens
How do you identify Pleotomus pallens?
Type adult female
Where is Pleotomus pallens found?
Range: sc US (mostly NM-TX-OK, singletons from KS & MO) ?AL )) / Mex Lloyd reported Pleotomus pallens from east-central Alabama as rare, never seen except in traps. , but might this have been Pleotomus davisii ??
What does Pleotomus pallens eat?
The diet of the Pleotomus pallens includes Larvae feed on snails; adult females do not feed (King 1880).
What is the life cycle of a Pleotomus pallens?
The rearmost ventral segments of this [adult female] were glowing a fluorescent green inches above the ground around 11pm. The critter was under a short juniper tree, aiming its abdomen out towards a large clearing. (J. Lapp, pers. obs., 2012)