Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
For more than a century most
Photuris spp. in NA were lumped under the name
P. pensylvanica, but Barber's (1951) work on flashing behavior led to recognition of multiple species and to further research on the use of flash patters in firefly taxonomy
(1).
Numbers
22 described spp., 28 more in prep. in our area
(1)Identification
Head often visible from above, not completely covered by pronotum as in
Photinus. Legs typically long and slender, not compressed, antennae simple
(3). Elytral fold, visible from side, incomplete (left)
vs complete in
Photinus (right)
(4)
identification to sp. is very difficult as the genitalia of all
Photuris males are virtually identical and both the males and females use a variety of flash patterns
(2)
keys to spp. in
(5)(6) should not be relied upon
(1)Food
Females mimic flash patterns of females of other genera, esp.
Photinus, and eat the lured males --for nutrition and, perhaps, to sequester chemical defenses
(7).
Life Cycle
Mating occurs high up in trees. Adults are relatively long-lived, survive in captivity for a month or more
(2)Remarks
Species identification is problematic. Several undescribed species exist which can be separated only by subtle differences in flash patterns. Most submitted images will remain on the genus page only because of this new finding.
Print References
Gronquist M., Schroeder F.C., Ghiradella H., Hill D., McCoy E.M., Meinwald J., Eisner T. (2006) Shunning the night to elude the hunter: Diurnal fireflies and the “femmes fatales." Chemoecology 16: 39-43.
Lloyd J.E. (1965) Aggressive mimicry in Photuris: firefly femmes fatales, Science 149: 653–654.
Lloyd J.E. (1969) Flashes of Photuris fireflies: their value and use in recognizing species. Fla. Entomol. 52: 29-35.
Lloyd J.E. (1980) Male Photuris fireflies mimic sexual signals of their females’ prey. Science 210: 669-671.