Photuris hebes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Photuris hebes | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Elateriformia |
| Family: | Lampyridae |
| Genus: | Photuris |
| Species: | P. hebes |
| Binomial name | |
| Photuris hebes Barber, 1951 | |
Photuris hebes, commonly known as heebie-jeebies[2] or the slow-hitch firefly,[3] is a species of firefly in the family Lampyridae.[4] It is found in the eastern United States.[1]
P. hebes is a medium-sized firefly, with adults measuring 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long. It is smaller and narrower than some other Photuris species, such as Photuris lucicrescens. P. hebes have wing covers, or elytra, varying in color from brown to nearly black with light-colored side margins. There is some regional variation in coloring, and depending on the region, they may or may not have shoulder stripes. Coloring on the head shield, or pronotum, also varies. Often the pronotum is yellow, with a dark mark in the center bounded by red or orange. Photuris fireflies have longer legs than species in the other common firefly genus in the United States, Photinus. P. hebes has a pale chest and pale abdominal segments.[2][5]
Life Cycle
Beetles such as P. hebes go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Photuris fireflies spend the majority of their lives as larvae, which are bioluminescent. Larvae are predaceous, eating snails, worms, and other soft-bodied invertebrates. Adults appear in mid-summer, from June to July.[2]