Photuris (genus)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photuris
Adult Pennsylvania Firefly (Photuris pennsylvanica)
Adult Pennsylvania Firefly (Photuris pennsylvanica)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Infraclass: Neoptera
Superorder: Endopterygota
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Elateriformia
Superfamily: Elateroidea
Family: Lampyridae
Subfamily: Photurinae
Genus: Photuris
LeConte, 1851
Species

Several, including:
Photuris cinctipennis
Photuris lucicrescens
Photuris pennsylvanica - Pennsylvania Firefly
Photuris pyralis - Common Eastern Firefly
Photuris versicolor

Photuris is a genus of fireflies (beetles of the family Lampyridae), containing the femme fatale fireflies. This common name refers to the fact that the females of these predatory beetles mimic the light signals of other firefly species' males, to attract, kill, and eat them.

The Pennsylvania Firefly (Photuris pennsylvanica) is the state insect of Pennsylvania, and the Common Eastern Firefly (Photuris pyralis) one of the state insects of Tennessee.