Explanation of Names
Author of genus is LeConte, 1851.
Numbers
Neartica lists 19 North American species.
Size
11-15 mm (P. pennsylvanica)
Identification
Head is often visible from above, not completely covered by
pronotum as in
Photinus. Legs typically long and slender, not compressed, antennae simple
(1).
Elytral fold, visible from side, incomplete--left, as opposed to complete fold in
Photinus--right
(2):
Food
Females are noted to mimic the flash patterns of females of other genera of Lampyridae, especially
Photinus. Males are lured in and consumed. They do this for nutrition, perhaps, and also to obtain chemical defenses from other Lampyridae
(3) (4), (Eisner et al., 1997).
Remarks
Species identification is problematic. It has been determined that several 'new' species exist, which can be separated only by subtle differences in their flash patterns. Most submitted images will remain on the genus page only because of this new finding.
Print References
Dillon, pp. 248 (key to genera), 255 (description P. pennsylvanica), plate XXVI
(1)
White, pp. 190-191, fig. 78--shows elytral fold
(2)
Preston-Mafham, pp. 65, 262
(3)
Eisner,
For Love of Insects (4)
Eisner et al., 1997. Firefly “femmes fatales” acquire defensive steroids (lucibufagins) from their firefly prey. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94: 9723–9728.
Internet References
Insects of Cedar Creek--discussess aggressive mimicry, but has no photographs of this genus.
