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The North American fireflies of the genus Photuris DeJean a modification of Barber's key (Coleoptera; Lampyridae).
By McDermott, F.A.
The Coleopterists' Bulletin 21(4): 106–116., 1967
Cite: 1276083 with citation markup [cite:1276083]
JSTOR

McDermott, F.A. 1967. The North American fireflies of the genus Photuris DeJean a modification of Barber's key (Coleoptera; Lampyridae). The Coleopterists' Bulletin 21(4): 106–116.

Barber (1951, pp. 20-24) gave a key to the North American species of the firefly genus Photuris. This key is based largely on the differences in coloration of the coxae, legs, ventral abdominal segments, and other structures; in practice, the key has been found confusing owing to the considerable and overlapping variation in coloration of the various species, and Barber evidently recognized this difficulty. The few new species that have been described offer little as specific coloration.

Of the nineteen species and varieties covered by Barber's key all but five are in the versicolor group, distinguished by a pronotal marking consisting of a median longitudinal black vitta of varying outline with a red or orange spot on each side of it; the differences in extent and form of the black vitta are of diagnostic value when considered in connection with other data.