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Firefly
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 ...
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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 so ...
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Chespiritoinae
''Chespirito'' is a genus of fireflies (family Lampyridae). They are the type genus In biological taxonomy, the type genus is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family name. Zoological nomenclature According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, "The name-bearing type of a nominal ... 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, or "Little Shakespeare". Species * '' Chespirito b ...
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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 s ...
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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 s ...
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Oculogryphus
''Oculogryphus'', is an Asian genus of firefly beetles: it has been placed in the Ototretinae or may be considered ''incertae sedis''. The genus contains 4 species. The type species '' O. fulvus'' was discovered from Vietnam. Description Antennae filiform. Large compound eyes are deeply emarginated posteriorly. There are eight abdominal ventrites. No photogenic organs. Females of this genus can fluoresce with a blue-green light whole body. Species rely on photic cues for purposes of mating. Body shape of male is elongate oval. Species * ''Oculogryphus bicolor'' Jeng, Branham & Engel, 2011 - Vietnam * ''Oculogryphus chenghoiyanae'' Yiu & Jeng, 2018 - Hong Kong * ''Oculogryphus fulvus'' Jeng, 2007 - Vietnam * ''Oculogryphus shuensis'' Jeng & Engel, 2014 - China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, most populous country, with a Population of China, population ...
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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 floridana'' ...
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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 ...
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Ototretinae
The Ototretinae are a small subfamily in the firefly family (Lampyridae). They are close to the Luciolinae in some respects, but do not glow or flash. Rather, they attract their partners with pheromones like many relatives of the firefly family. They are found in Eurasia and North America. They have sometimes been included in the Luciolinae: as the Ototretini, but it appears that this tribe may not be monophyletic; the puzzling '' Stenocladius'' could well be close enough to the Cyphonocerinae to be included there. Genera ''BioLib'' includes the following genera: * '' Baolacus'' Pic, 1915 * '' Brachylampis'' Van Dyke, 1939 * '' Brachypterodrilus'' Pic, 1918 * '' Ceylanidrilus'' Pic, 1911 * '' Drilaster'' Kiesenwetter, 1879 * '' Emasia'' Bocakova and Janisova, 2010 * '' Eugeusis'' Westwood, 1853 * '' Falsophaeopterus'' Pic, 1911 * '' Flabellopalpodes'' Bocakova and Bocak, 2016 * '' Flabellototreta'' Pic, 1911 * '' Gorhamia'' Pic, 1911 * '' Harmatelia'' Walker, 1858 * '' Hyda ...
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Cyphonocerinae
The Cyphonocerinae are a subfamily of fireflies (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 ...) with only single genus, ''Cyphonocerus''. References Lampyridae Taxa named by Roy Crowson Beetle subfamilies {{firefly-stub ...
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Lampyris Noctiluca
''Lampyris noctiluca'', the common glow-worm of Europe (see also " glowworm"), is the type species of beetle in the genus ''Lampyris'' and the family Lampyridae. ''Lampyris noctiluca'' presents a conspicuous sexual dimorphism. The males are winged, with brown elytra, a clearer pronotum and a large brown spot in the middle, while females are larviforme, wings are missing and they are often twice the size of the males (up to in length). These beetles use their bioluminescence to attract mates. The adult females are mostly famed for their glow, although all stages of their life cycle are capable of glowing. In Britain, this species is fairly common compared to its cousin '' Phosphaenus hemipterus'' – the lesser glow worm – which is very rare. Distribution The range of this beetle stretches from Portugal and Ireland in the west, right across Europe, Africa and Asia to China in the east. It also survives further north than any other firefly, almost reaching the Arctic Circle. ...
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Pollaclasis
''Pollaclasis'' is a genus of fireflies in the beetle family Lampyridae. There is one described species in ''Pollaclasis'', ''P. bifaria''. ''Pollaclasis'' is most closely related to ''Pterotus ''Pterotus'' 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 ...'', and may someday become included within the Pterotinae subfamily. References Further reading * * Lampyridae Articles created by Qbugbot {{firefly-stub ...
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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 ...
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