Photinus indictus
Species of beetle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Photinus indictus, or silent firefly,[2] is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is a diurnal firefly, active during the day rather than at night, with no lanterns. It is found in eastern North America.[3][4][5]
| Photinus indictus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Photinus indictus photographed in Wheatley, Ontario, Canada | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Elateriformia |
| Family: | Lampyridae |
| Genus: | Photinus |
| Species: | P. indictus |
| Binomial name | |
| Photinus indictus LeConte, 1881 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Pyropyga indicta LeConte, 1881 | |
Description
P. indictus is a small to medium-sized beetle, with adults approximately 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long. The head shield, or pronotum, is pale yellow with a thick, black, rectangular central mark with red or pink on both sides. The wing covers, or elytra, are dark with wide, well-defined, light-colored margins. Unlike fireflies that produce light as adults, P. indictus has no lanterns on its abdomen. The female is often slightly larger than the male.[2]
Etymology
Life Cycle
Beetles such as P. indictus 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.[1][2]
Behavior
Adult P. indictus fireflies are believed to attract mates through airborne pheromones.[8]
Habitat
They can be found in meadows, pastures, and fields.[2]
Range
P. indictus is found in eastern North America, most commonly in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada.[1]