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Fireflies
The Lampyridae are a family of elateroid beetles with more than 2,000 described species, many of which are light-emitting. They are soft-bodied beetles commonly called fireflies, lightning bugs, or glowworms for their conspicuous production of light, mainly during twilight, to attract mates. Light production in the Lampyridae is thought to have originated as an honest warning signal that the larvae were distasteful; this was co-opted in evolution as a mating signal in the adults. In a further development, female fireflies of the genus ''Photuris'' mimic the flash pattern of '' Photinus'' species to trap their males as prey. Fireflies are found in temperate and tropical climates. Many live in marshes or in wet, wooded areas where their larvae have abundant sources of food. While all known fireflies glow as larvae, only some species produce light in their adult stage, and the location of the light organ varies among species and between sexes of the same species. Fireflies h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Photurinae
The Photurinae are a subfamily of fireflies (Lampyridae). They contain many of the well-known North American species, such as the Pennsylvania firefly (''Photuris pennsylvanica''), state insect of Pennsylvania. They are among the "flashing" (as opposed to continuous-glow) fireflies known as "lightning bugs" in North America, although they are not too distantly related to the flashing fireflies in the Lampyrinae; as the most basal lineages of that subfamily do not produce light at all, the Photurinae's flashing signals seem to be convergent evolution.Stanger-Hall, Kathrin F.; Lloyd, James E. & Hillis, David M. (2007): Phylogeny of North American fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae): Implications for the evolution of light signals. '' Mol. Phylogenet. Evol.'' 45(1): 33-49. PDF fulltext/ref> The genus ''Photuris'' is often called "'' femme fatale'' fireflies", due to the females' habit of imitating other "lightning bugs'" flashes, to attract, kill, and eat them. Their prey includes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bioluminescence
Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms. It is a form of chemiluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some fungi, microorganisms including some bioluminescent bacteria, and terrestrial arthropods such as fireflies. In some animals, the light is bacteriogenic, produced by symbiotic bacteria such as those from the genus '' Vibrio''; in others, it is autogenic, produced by the animals themselves. In a general sense, the principal chemical reaction in bioluminescence involves a light-emitting molecule and an enzyme, generally called luciferin and luciferase, respectively. Because these are generic names, luciferins and luciferases are often distinguished by the species or group, e.g. firefly luciferin. In all characterized cases, the enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of the luciferin. In some species, the luciferase requires other cofactors, such as calcium or magnesium ions, and s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lampyrinae
The Lampyrinae are a large subfamily of fireflies (Lampyridae). The exact delimitation, and the internal systematics, have until recently been a matter of debate; for long this group was used as a "wastebin taxon" to hold any fireflies with insufficiently resolved relationships. Regardless, they are very diverse even as a good monophyletic group, containing flashing and continuous-glow fireflies from the Holarctic and some tropical forms as well. The ancestral Lampyrinae probably had no or very primitive light signals; in any case several modern lineages appear to have returned to the pheromone A pheromone () is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting like hormones outside the body of the secreting individual, to affect the behavio ... communication of their ancestors independently.Stanger-Hall, Kathrin F.; Lloyd, James E. & Hillis, David M. (2007): Phylogeny of North Amer ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Luciolinae
The Luciolinae are among the largest subfamilies of fireflies (Lampyridae). They seem to be all "flashing" (as opposed to "continuous-glow") fireflies. They are a diverse lineage, spreading throughout the warm parts of Eurasia into temperate Europe and East Asia and south to the Australian region.Stanger-Hall, Kathrin F.; Lloyd, James E. & Hillis, David M. (2007): Phylogeny of North American fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae): Implications for the evolution of light signals. ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' 45(1): 33-49. (HTML abstract) Several tropical species, notably of the genus '' Pteroptyx'', are of local economic importance. Their displays will self-synchronize until the entire local firefly population flashes in the same rhythm, creating a stunning spectacle that is popular with tourists. The most well-known location to witness these displays is on the Selangor River at Kampong Kuantan, Malaysia. Two Japanese species of '' Luciola'', collectively known as '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Photuris Lucicrescens
''Photuris'' is a genus of fireflies (beetles of the family Lampyridae). These are the ''femme fatale'' lightning bugs of North America. This common name refers to a behavior of the adult females of these predatory beetles; they engage in aggressive mimicry, imitating the light signals of other firefly species' females to attract, kill, and eat the males. Their flashing bioluminescent signals seem to have evolved independently and eventually adapted to those of their prey, mainly unrelated Lampyrinae, such as '' Photinus'' ( rover fireflies) or '' Pyractomena''. Species At least 64 species are currently recognized, all restricted to temperate North America. They mainly occur from the East Coast to Texas. Species include: *' – Barber, 1951 *'' Photuris bethaniensis''– McDermott, 1953 *' – Barber, 1951 *' – Barber, 1951 *'– LeConte, 1852 *'– LeConte, 1852 *''Photuris fairchildi''– Barber, 1951 *'– Fall, 1927 *'' Photuris floridan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Insect Systematics And Diversity
Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes and one pair of antennae. Their blood is not totally contained in vessels; some circulates in an open cavity known as the haemocoel. Insects are the most diverse group of animals; they include more than a million described species and represent more than half of all known living organisms. The total number of extant species is estimated at between six and ten million; In: potentially over 90% of the animal life forms on Earth are insects. Insects may be found in nearly all environments, although only a small number of species reside in the oceans, which are dominated by another arthropod group, crustaceans, which recent research has indicated insects are nested within. Nearly all insects hatch from eggs. Insect ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chespiritoinae
''Chespirito'' is a genus of fireflies (family Lampyridae). They are the type genus and sole constituent of the subfamily Chespiritoinae. This genus is somewhat unusual among fireflies in a complete lack of bioluminescent organs in the adults. Distribution ''Chespirito'' is only known to occur in Mexico but is hypothesized to occur in nearby countries, such as Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. Systematics and nomenclature The genus ''Chespirito'' is not closely related to any other firefly lineages, and is given placement as the sole member of its own subfamily. The genus name is in homage to the Mexican actor Roberto Gómez Bolaños, commonly known by his stage name Chespirito Roberto Gómez Bolaños (21 February 1929 – 28 November 2014), more commonly known by his stage name Chespirito, or "Little William Shakespeare, Shakespeare", was a Mexican actor, comedian, screenwriter, humorist, director, producer, and au ..., or "Little Shakespeare". Species * '' Chespirito ball ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lamprigera
''Lamprigera'' is a poorly resolved genus of fireflies or glow-worms in the subfamily Lampyrinae, possibly placed in tribe Photinini. Species of the genus ''Lamprigera'' are found in Asia. Species The ''Global Biodiversity Information Facility The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is an international organisation that focuses on making scientific data on biodiversity available via the Internet using web services. The data are provided by many institutions from around ...'' lists: * '' Lamprigera angustior'' Fairmaire, 1886 * '' Lamprigera boyei'' Motschulsky, 1853 * '' Lamprigera crassus'' Gorham, 1880 * '' Lamprigera diffinis'' Walker, 1858 * '' Lamprigera lutosipennis'' Fairmaire, 1897 * '' Lamprigera marusii'' Pic, 1955 * '' Lamprigera minor'' E.Olivier, 1885 * '' Lamprigera morator'' (E.Olivier, 1891) * '' Lamprigera nepalensis'' (Hope, 1831) * '' Lamprigera nitens'' E.Olivier, 1885 * '' Lamprigera nitidicollis'' (Fairmaire, 1881) * '' Lamprigera sc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pollaclasis
''Pollaclasis'' is a genus of fireflies in the beetle family Lampyridae The Lampyridae are a family of elateroid beetles with more than 2,000 described species, many of which are light-emitting. They are soft-bodied beetles commonly called fireflies, lightning bugs, or glowworms for their conspicuous production .... There is one described species in ''Pollaclasis'', ''P. bifaria''. ''Pollaclasis'' is most closely related to '' Pterotus'', and may someday become included within the Pterotinae subfamily. References Further reading * * Lampyridae Articles created by Qbugbot {{firefly-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elateroidea
The Elateroidea are a large superfamily of beetles. It contains the familiar click beetles, fireflies, and soldier beetles and their relatives. It consists of about 25,000 species. Description Elateroidea is a morphologically diverse group, including hard-bodied beetles with 5 abdominal ventrites, soft-bodied beetles with 7-8 ventrites connected with membranes (formerly known as cantharoids), and beetles with intermediate forms. They have a range of sizes and colours, but in terms of shape, they are usually narrow and parallel-sided as adults. Many of the sclerotised elateroids ( Cerophytidae, Eucnemidae, Throscidae, Elateridae) have a clicking mechanism. This is a peg on the prothorax which fits into a cavity in the mesothorax. When a click beetle bends its body, the peg snaps into the cavity, causing the beetle's body to straighten so suddenly that it jumps into the air. Most beetles capable of bioluminescence are in the Elateroidea, in the families Lampyridae (~2000 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cheguevariinae
''Cheguevaria'' is a genus of fireflies (family Lampyridae), and the sole member of the subfamily Cheguevariinae. Distribution ''Cheguevaria'' are found in the Caribbean. Systematics and nomenclature The genus ''Cheguevaria'' is of uncertain relationships, though possibly related to Amydetinae, and has been given placement as the sole member of its own subfamily, after previously being considered as ''incertae sedis'' within the Lampyridae. The genus name is in homage to Marxist revolutionary leader Che Guevara Ernesto Che Guevara (; 14 June 1928The date of birth recorded on /upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Ernesto_Guevara_Acta_de_Nacimiento.jpg his birth certificatewas 14 June 1928, although one tertiary source, (Julia Constenla, quot .... Species * '' Cheguevaria angusta'' Kazantsev, 2006 from the Dominican Republic * '' Cheguevaria taino'' Kazantsev, 2006 from Puerto Rico * '' Cheguevaria montana'' Kazantsev, 2008 from Puerto Rico References Lampyr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cyphonocerinae
The Cyphonocerinae are a subfamily of fireflies (Lampyridae The Lampyridae are a family (biology), family of Elateroidea, elateroid beetles with more than 2,000 described species, many of which are bioluminescence, light-emitting. They are soft-bodied beetles commonly called fireflies, lightning bugs, ...) with only single genus, ''Cyphonocerus''. References Lampyridae Taxa named by Roy Crowson Beetle subfamilies {{firefly-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
