Photinus consimilis
| Photinus consimilis | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Lampyridae |
| Genus: | Photinus |
| Species: | P. consimilis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Photinus consimilis Green, 1956
| |
Photinus consimilis, or cattail flash-train firefly,[2] is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in eastern North America.[3][4][5]
Description
[edit]P. consimilis is a medium-sized beetle, with adults that measure about 10—11 mm (0.4 in) long. The head shield, or pronotum, is pale yellow with a dark, central bar that is sometimes wider at the front, bounded by red or pink. The wing covers, or elytra, are dark with light-colored margins. The male has lanterns on 2 segments of its abdomen and the female has a lantern on only one segment. The rest of the abdominal segments are dark.[6][2]
Etymology
[edit]Photinus is from the Greek word for shining or bright.[7] The specific epithet, consimilis, means "with similarity", and refers to the fact that there are several other closely related species that look similar, including Photinus carolinus.[2]
Life Cycle
[edit]Beetles such as P. consimilis go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Photinus fireflies spend the majority of their lives as larvae, which are bioluminescent and likely live below the soil surface, eating snails, worms, and other soft-bodied invertebrates.[2]
Behavior
[edit]Adult male P. consimilis fireflies fly usually about eye level or lower, flashing a series of quick pulses to attract the attention of females. Their flash pattern consists of 3 to 9 quick pulses of light, with each series, or flash train, about 2 seconds in length, with a period of 9 to 12 seconds of darkness before the next flash train, depending on temperature. A female responds with an answering double flash from a perch on low vegetation, and the communication continues until the male and female locate each other in order to mate.[2]
Habitat
[edit]This firefly is found in wetlands, along streams, on riverbanks, and in marshes.[2]
Range
[edit]P. consimilis is native to the eastern United States and has been found as far west as eastern Oklahoma and north to southern Ontario.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Walker, A. & Pérez Hernández, C. 2021. Photinus consimilis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T164076640A166771793. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T164076640A166771793.en. Accessed on 19 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Faust, Lynn Frierson (2017). Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning Bugs. University of Georgia Press. ISBN 978-0-8203-4872-8.
- ^ "Photinus consimilis Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- ^ "Photinus consimilis". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- ^ "Photinus consimilis species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- ^ Green, J.W. (1956). "Revision of the Nearctic species of Photinus (Lampyridae: Coleoptera)" (PDF). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. Fourth. 28 (15): 561–613. ISSN 0068-547X.
- ^ "φωτεινός". Wiktionary, the free dictionary. 17 March 2023.
Further reading
[edit]- Green, J. W. (1956). "Revision of the Nearctic species of Photinus (Lampyridae: Coleoptera)" (PDF). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. Fourth Series. 28: 561–613. ISSN 0068-547X.