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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga) » Click, Firefly and Soldier Beetles (Elateroidea) » Glowworm Beetles (Phengodidae) » Glowworms (Phengodes)

Genus Phengodes - Glowworms

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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 Phengodidae (Glowworm Beetles)
Genus Phengodes (Glowworms)
Explanation of Names
Phengo is Greek for Light (1) which the adult females and larvae emmit (2)
Numbers
There are 10 species of Phengodes (s. str.), of which 7 occur in the southwestern (Arizona), central, and eastern United States, and 3 others occur in Mexico. (2)
Identification
Adult males have short, soft elytra, branched antennae, and large, bulging eyes. (2)
Adult females are larviform and possess bioluminescent organs. (2)
Food
Phengodid adult females and larvae feed on millipedes. (2)
Remarks
Phengodids are closely related to Fireflies. (2)
Print References
Wittmer W. 1975. The genus Phengodes in the United States (Coleoptera: Phengodidae). Coleopterists Bulletin 29:231-250.
Internet References
Texas Beeltes
Works Cited
1.Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms
By Donald J. Borror
2.American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea
By Arnett, R.H., Jr., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley and J. H. Frank. (eds.)
Contributed by Phillip Harpootlian on 4 May, 2006 - 9:15am
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Last updated 14 June, 2006 - 10:03pm

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