pyralis Group

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Range · Habitat · Remarks · Works Cited

Photinus pyralis, common eastern USA firefly - Photinus pyralis - male - female

Photinus pyralis female? - Photinus pyralis - female

Firefly Beetle - Lateral - Photinus pyralis

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga

No Taxon (Series Elateriformia)

Superfamily Elateroidea

Family Lampyridae (Fireflies)

Subfamily Lampyrinae

Tribe Lucidotini

Genus Photinus

No Taxon pyralis Group

Explanation of Names

pyralis Group designated by Green (1956) (1)

Numbers

3 spp. (1)(2)

Identification

male ventral segment 5 with pale apical border, but not diagnostic as this character is shared by other spp. outside of this group(1)

Range

collectively: e. US to w. TX (2)

Habitat

usually found in woodland borders but in some places pyralis seems to be ecologically ubiquitous (at least in 1966). (2)

Remarks

pyralis Group

flash signals are either of the simple "flash-answer" type or of the "flash-delay-answer" type (2)

pyralis - e US (TX-FL-NY-NE), absent along s. Atlantic coast, found in var. habitats, male flash-pattern is a single long flash emitted during flight that resembles the letter J.

australis - se US (MO-FL-NC), nearly always confined to shaded areas and dense bushes, quick short flash every ~4 secs.

scintillans - ne US (NY-PA-MD area), brachypterous females, males give quick flash every 2.5 secs on avg.

Works Cited

1.	Revision of the Nearctic species of Photinus (Lampyridae: Coleoptera). Green, J.W. 1956. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 28: 561–613.

2.	Studies on the flash communication system in Photinus fireﬂies. Lloyd, J.E. 1966. Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan 130: 1-95.

Contributed by Mike Quinn on 20 August, 2016 - 11:14am
Last updated 20 August, 2016 - 1:54pm

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