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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Elateriformia » Elateroidea » Fireflies (Lampyridae) » Lampyrinae
Photo#907591
Winter Dark Fireflies
Copyright © 2014 Laura Hughes

Winter Dark Fireflies
Sardis, Monroe County, Ohio, USA
April 6, 2014
I found several dozen of these on the sides of Chestnut Oak trees on April 6. I think they are winter dark fireflies (Ellychnia corrusca), although I've read that it's more likely a complex of closely related, undescribed species. My question is about the larvae form that is with it. There were equal numbers of adults and larvae on the trees. Is this the same species with both adults and mature larvae at the same time?

Thank you!

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Winter Dark Fireflies Winter Dark Fireflies
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Contributed by Laura Hughes on 9 April, 2014 - 6:57pm
Last updated 4 June, 2014 - 3:18am

larva and adult
You are looking at the larva of a Pyractomena borealis and an adult Ellychnia. Two different species that are often found on the same colony trees in late winter-early spring. Oaks are especially popular with these species (along with hickories and tulip poplars). The paper Fireflies in the Snow, Faust 2012 covers these two species in detail.
… LFaust, 15 April, 2015 - 12:54pm login or register to post comments

 
Thank you!
Thank you!
… Laura Hughes, 20 April, 2015 - 12:04pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Beetles.
… v belov, 4 June, 2014 - 3:18am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Beetles.
… john and jane balaban, 15 May, 2014 - 7:00pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… john and jane balaban, 15 May, 2014 - 7:00pm login or register to post comments

the larva looks like Pyractomena to me
and the adult is Ellychnia corrusca, yes.
… metrioptera, 9 April, 2014 - 7:45pm login or register to post comments

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