''Pterotus obscuripennis'', commonly known as the ''Douglas Fir Glowworm'', is a species of firefly in the

beetle Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...

family

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, ...

. It is found in North America. Adult males are smaller (9.5-12 mm),

alate Alate (Latin ''ālātus'', from ''āla'' (“wing”)) is an adjective and noun used in entomology and botany to refer to something that has wings or winglike structures. In entomology In entomology, "alate" usually refers to the winged form o ...

, capable of fight, have an elaborate antenna morphology, and are totally non-luminous. Adult females are larger (~25-35 mm), fully larviform and flightless, and cream to light golden brown in color, and luminous with photo organs on the seventh and eighth abdominal segment. Larvae are largely black in color, with cream to white coloration in the spaces between the body segments, and are luminous and predatory on slugs.

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