Phausis

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Phausis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Infraclass: Neoptera Superorder: Endopterygota Order: Coleoptera Suborder: Polyphaga Infraorder: Elateriformia Superfamily: Elateroidea Family: Lampyridae Subfamily: Lampyrinae Tribe: Photinini Genus: Phausis LeConte, 1851
Species
Several, including: Phausis reticulata - Blue ghost firefly Phausis splendidula (but see text)

Phausis is a genus of firefly (family Lampyridae). These beetles are for the most part unimpressive in their appearance and behaviour, and thus have not drawn much study, and little is known about many of the species.

Phausis males are small compared to many fireflies, ranging from about 3 to 8.5 mm (0.1 - 0.3 inches). Most are brown to brown-black in colour and have transparent "window" spots in the front half of the pronotum. A key characteristic distinguishing adult male Phausis from most other firefly genera is the presence of a minute glassy bead at the tip of each antenna. Males have huge eyes. Female Phausis, where known, are larviform. For most North American species the females have not been discovered, possibly because they often live in burrows in the soil and are therefore not easily collected.

Most males are non-luminescent, while female Phausis (those that are known) do emit bioluminescence. Males of the species Phausis reticulata emit a faint, constant glow.

Species in this genus are at least known from Europe and North America. More than seven species occur in North America, ranging throughout much of the continent. The genera Phausis and Lamprohiza are closely related and in need of revision; the delimitations between the two are not clear. Alternatvely, Phausis may be a junior synonym of Lamprohiza.