Genus Pyropyga

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · See Also · Print References · Works Cited

California Fireless Firefly? Yes - Pyropyga nigricans

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Elateroidea (Click, Firefly and Soldier Beetles)

Family Lampyridae (Fireflies)

Genus Pyropyga

Explanation of Names

Author is Motschulsky, 1852.

From Greek pyro fire, plus pyga, rump (1). Apparently refers to the light organs in this genus, though they are much reduced compared to typical Lympyridae.

Numbers

5 spp listed at Nomina Insecta Nearctica.

Size

5-9 mm

Identification

Small, dark fireflies, similar to Ellychnia. Note these characters (2):

reduced (but not completely absent) light organs (absent in Ellychnia)

third antennal segment as long as or slightly longer than fourth segment (3rd shorter than 4th in Ellychnia)

small, 5-9 mm in length (Ellychnia typically 10 mm or more)

See Also

Ellychnia

Print References

Borror, entries for pyr, pyg(1)

Dillon and Dillon, pp. 249-250 (2)

Works Cited

1.	Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms By Donald J. Borror

2.	A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America By Dillon, Elizabeth S., and Dillon, Lawrence

Contributed by tom murray on 21 June, 2005 - 5:27am
Additional contributions by cotinis, kschnei
Last updated 13 January, 2009 - 11:59am

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