Return to Texas Entomology - Compiled by Mike Quinn
There are 40+ species of Lampyrids recorded from Texas (E.G. Riley, pers. comm., 2016)
Specimens primarily shot at the TAMUIC and the UTIC
- Microphotus octarthrus Fall - AZ to w. TX (distributions per literature, specimen label data in the TAMU and UT collections, plus BugGuide data)
- Microphotus pecosensis Fall - sw US to w. TX / nc. Mex.
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- Pleotomus pallens LeConte - sc US (NM to AL, n. to KS), but most common in south and west TX
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- Pleotomus nigripennis LeConte - AZ to w. TX (?NSR)
- Tenaspis angularis (Gorham) - Gulf Coast to C. Amer. (diurnal, very rare)
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- Aspisoma ignitum (Linnaeus) - w. & s. TX to S. Amer.
(very rare, known in Texas from three specimens)
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- Pyractomena punctiventris (LeConte) - e., c. & s. TX
- Pyractomena angulata (Say) - e NA to e. TX
- Pyractomena vexillaria Gorham - 
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- Ellychnia corrusca (Linnaeus) - e. NA to e TX, w. Mtn tops (diurnal)
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- Ellychnia flavicollis (LeConte) - NM to c. TX
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- Lucidota atra (Olivier) - e. NA to e TX
(diurnal)
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- Phausis inaccensa LeConte - e. US to e. TX (NSR) (only the females emit light)
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- (same as above?)
- Photinus texanus Green - w. to c. TX to n. Mex
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- Photinus immaculatus Green - only known from Gillespie Co., in central TX. Most likely Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.
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- Photinus cookii Green - se US to e. TX (diurnal, non-flashing, rare)
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- Photinus pyralis (Linnaeus) - e. US to w. TX (probably occurs in every county e. of I-35)
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- Photinus concisus Lloyd - Endemic to c. TX
- Photinus sp. 1 (large sp., nr. pyralis) - s. TX
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- Photinus stellaris Fall - w. to c. TX
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- Photinus consanguineus LeConte - e. US to e. TX
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- Photinus dimissus LeConte - s. TX to across s. OK
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- Pyropyga minuta (LeConte) - se US to AZ
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- Pyropyga nigricans (Say) - w. NA to s. TX (diurnal)
- Pyropyga (?)modesta Green - mostly AZ, but also NM-TX-MO-OK / n. Mex.
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- Photuris versicolor COMPLEX - e US
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- Photuris frontalis COMPLEX - e. US to c. TX
- Photuris hebes Barber - se. US to e. TX
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- Photuris flavicollis Fall - w. TX
- Pollaclasis bifaria (Say) - e. US to e. TX (very rare throughout its range)Barber, H.S. and F.A. McDermott. 1951. North American fireflies in the genus Photuris. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, 117(1): 1–58.
Bouchard, P., Y. Bousquet, A.E. Davies, M.A. Alonso-Zarazaga, J.F. Lawrence, C.H.C. Lyal, A.F. Newton, C.A.M. Reid, M. Schmitt, S.A. Ślipiński, and A.B.T. Smith. 2011. Family-group names in Coleoptera (Insecta). ZooKeys 88, 1-972.
Branham, M.A. 2003. A new technique for collecting glowworm fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). The Coleopterists' Bulletin 57: 114-115.
Branham, M.A. and M.D. Greenfield. 1996. Flashing males win mate success. Nature, 381: 745-746.
Brown, B.V. 1994. Life history parameters and new host records of phorid (Diptera: Phoridae) parasitoids of fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). The Coleopterist’s Bulletin 48: 145-147.
Buck, J.B. 1938. Synchronous rhythmic flashing of fireflies.Quarterly Review of Biology 13: 301- 314.
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Buck, J.B. and E. Buck. 1968. Mechanism of rhythmic synchronous flashing of fireflies. Science 159: 1319-1327.
Buck, J. and E. Buck 1978. Toward a functional interpretation of synchronous flashing by fireflies. The American Naturalist 112(985): 471–492.
Buschman, L.L. 1984. Biology of the firefly Pyractomena lucifera (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). Florida Entomologist 67(4): 529-542.
Case, J.F. 1980. Courting behavior in a synchronously flashing, aggregative firefly, Pteroptyx tener. Biological Bulletin 159: 613-625.
Cicero, J.M.. 1981. Evolution of the glow-signal in Microphotus (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). Master of Science Thesis, Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson. 27 pp.
Cicero, J.M. 1983. Lek assembly and flash synchrony in the Arizona firefly Photinus knulli Green (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 37(4): 318-334.
Cicero, J.M. 1988. Ontophylogenetics of cantharoid larviforms (Coleoptera: Cantharoidea). The Coleopterists Bulletin 42, 105-151.
Copeland, J. and A. Moiseff. 1995. The occurrence of synchrony in the North American firefly Photinus carolinus (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). Journal of Insect Behavior 8: 381–394.
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R.A. 1972. A review of the classification of Cantharoidea (Coleoptera),
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Fall, H.C. 1912. New Coleoptera chiefly from the Southwest, V. The Canadian Entomologist 44: 40-48.
Fall, H.C. 1927. New Lampyridae. Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society, 22(4): 205-211.
Fall, H.C. 1937. Miscellaneous notes and descriptions (Coleoptera). The Canadian Entomologist, 69: 29-32.
Faust, L.F. 2010. Natural history and flash repertoire of the synchronous firefly Photinus carolinus (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Florida Entomologist, 93(2): 208-217.
Faust. L.F. (2017) Fireflies, Glow-worms, and lightning bugs: Identification and natural history of the fireflies of the eastern and central United States and Canada. University of Georgia Press, Athens. 400 pp.
Faust, L. and H. Faust. 2014. The occurrence and behaviors of North American fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) on milkweed, Asclepias syriaca L. The Coleopterists Bulletin 68(2): 283-291.
Fender, K.M. 1966. The genus Phausis in America north of Mexico (Coleoptera-Lampyridae). Northwest Science 40: 83-95.
Fender, K.M. 1970. Ellychnia of western North America. (Coleoptera-Lampyridae). Northwest Science 44: 31-43.
Fraga, H. 2008. Firefly luminescence: A historical perspective and recent developments. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences 7: 146-158.
Frick-Ruppert J.E. and J.J. Rosen. 2008. Morphology and behavior of Phausis reticulata (Blue Ghost Firefly). Journal of the North Carolina Academy of Science 124(4): 139–147.
Fu X-H, Ohba N, Vencl FV & Lei C-L. 2005. Structure, behavior, and the life cycle of an aquatic firefly, Luciola substriata. Canadian Entomologist 137, 83-90.
Gorham, H.S. 1880. Materials for a revision of the Lampyridae. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1880: 1-36.
Gorham, H.S. 1880-1886. Biologia Centrali-Americana, Insecta, Coleoptera, Vol. 3, Part 2, Malacodermata.
Green, J.W. 1956. Revision of the Nearctic species of Photinus (Lampyridae: Coleoptera). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 28: 561–613.
Green, J.W. 1957. Revision of the Nearctic species of Pyractomena. Wasmann Journal of Biology 15(2): 237-284.
Green J.W. 1959. Revision of the species of Microphotus, with an emendation of the Lampyrini (Lampyridae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 13(3): 80-96.
Green, J.W. 1961. Revision of the species of Pyropyga (Lampyridae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 15(3): 65-74.
Gronquist, M., F.C. Schroeder, H. Ghiradella, D. Hill, E.M. McCoy, J. Meinwald and T. Eisner. 2006. Shunning the night to elude the hunter: Diurnal fireflies and the “femmes fatales." Chemoecology 16: 39-43.
Hanson, F.E., J.F. Case, E. Buck and J. Buck. 1971. Synchrony and flash entrainment in a New Guinea firefly. Science 174: 161-164.
Iguchi, Y. 2009. The ecological impact of an introduced population on a native population in the firefly Luciola cruciata (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). Biodiversity and Conservation 18:2119–2126
Jacquelin du Val. P.N.C. [1857]. Ordre des coléoptères, Lin. Pp. 1-328 In:
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Jusoh, W.F.A.W. and N.R. Hashim. 2012. The effect of habitat modification on firefly populations at the Rembau-Linggi estuary, Peninsular Malaysia. Lampyrid 2: 149-155.
King, H.S. 1880. Life history of Pleotomus pallens LeC. Psyche 3: 51-53.
Lee, K., Y. Kim, J. Lee, M. Song, and S. Nam 2008. Toxicity to firefly, Luciola lateralis, of commercially registered insecticides and fertilizers. Korean Journal of Applied Entomology 47: 265-272.
LeConte, J.L. 1851(1852). Synopsis of the Lampyrides of temperate North America. Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences 5: 331-347.
LeConte, J.L. 1868. New Coleoptera collected on the survey for the extension of the Union Pacific railway, E.D. from Kansas to Fort Craig, New Mexico. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 2: 49-64.
LeConte, J.L. 1881. Synopsis of the Lampyridae of the United States. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 9: 15-72.
LeConte, J.L. [1885]. Short studies of North American Coleoptera. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 12: 1–32.
Leng, C.W. 1920. Catalogue of the Coleoptera of America, north of Mexico. John D. Sherman, Jr., Mount Vernon, NY. x + 470 pp.
Lewis, S. 2016. Silent sparks: The wondrous world of fireflies. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. xi + 240 pp.
Lewis, S.M., L. Faust and R. De Cock. 2012. The dark side of the light show: Predation on fireflies of the Great Smokies. Psyche, doi:10.1155/2012/634027.
Linnaeus, C. 1767. Systema Naturae, 12th edition. Stockholm, 830 pp.
Lloyd, J.E. 1964. Description of a brachypterous firefly female of the genus Photinus (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). The Coleopterists Bulletin, 18(4): 127-128.
Lloyd, J.E. 1965. Aggressive mimicry in Photuris: firefly femmes fatales, Science 149(3684): 653–654.
Lloyd, J.E. 1966a. Signals and mating behavior in several fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 20: 84-90.
Lloyd, J.E. 1966b. Studies on the flash communication system in Photinus fireflies. Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan 130: 1-95. (Full PDF)
Lloyd, J.E. 1967. The prairie peninsula and secondary intergradation in Photinus fireflies
(Coleoptera: Lampyridae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 21: 33-39.
Lloyd, J.E. 1968. A new Photinus firefly, with notes on mating behavior and a possible case of character displacement (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 22(1): 1-10.
Lloyd, J.E. 1969a. Flashes of Photuris fireflies: their value and use in recognizing species. Florida Entomologist 52(1): 29-35.
Lloyd,
J.E. 1969b. Flashes, behavior and additional species of
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Lloyd, J.E. 1973a. Firefly parasites and predators. The Coleopterists Bulletin, 27(2): 91–106.
Lloyd, J.E. 1973b. Model for the mating protocol of synchronously flashing fireflies. Nature 245: 268–270.
Lloyd, J.E. 1980. Male Photuris fireflies mimic sexual signals of their females’ prey. Science 210(4470): 669-671.
Lloyd, J.E. 1981. Firefly mate rivals mimic their predators and vice versa. Nature 290: 498-500.
Lloyd, J.E. 1989. Bat (Chiroptera) connections with firefly (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) luminescence, I: potential significance, historical evidence, and opportunity. The Coleopterists Bulletin, 43(1): 83-91.
Lloyd, J.E. 1990a. Firefly semiosystematics and predation: a history. Florida Entomologist 73(1): 51-66.
Lloyd, J.E. 1990b. Checklist and keys to fireflies of east-central Alabama. Stridulator 4(3): 9-21.
Lloyd, J.E. 1997. Signaling with glows, flashes, and pheromones. Fireflyer Companion 1(3): 33-38.
Lloyd, J.E. 2001. On Research and entomological education V: A species (c)oncept for fireflyers, at the bench and in old fields, and back to the Wisconsian glacier. Florida Entomologist 84(4): 588–601.
Lloyd, J.E. 2003. On research and entomological education VI: Firefly species and lists, old and new. Florida Entomologist 86(2): 99–113.
Lloyd, J.E. 2002. Family 62: Lampyridae. Pp. 187–96. In: R.H. Arnett, M.C. Thomas, P.E. Skelley, and J.H. Frank (eds.) American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. xiv + 861 pp.
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Lloyd, J.E. and S.R. Wing. 1983. Nocturnal aerial predation of fireflies by light-seeking fireflies. Science 222: 634-635.
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McDermott, F.A. 1914. The ecologic relations of the photogenic function among insects. Z. wiss. Insektenbiol. 10: 303-307.
McDermott, F.A. 1948. The common fireflies of Delaware. Self published, Wilmington. 18 pp.
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McDermott, F.A. 1962. Illustrations of the aedeagi of the Lampyridae (Coleoptera). The Coleopterists Bulletin, 16(1): 21-27.McDermott, F.A. 1963. Green lampyrids (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). The Coleopterists Bulletin, 17(4): 128.
McDermott, F.A 1964. The taxonomy of the Lampyridae (Coleoptera). Transactions of the American Entomological Society 90(1): 1-72.
McDermott, F.A. 1966. Lampyridae. In: W.O. Steel (ed.). Coleopterorum catalogus supplementa, pars 9, 1-149.
McDermott, F.A. 1967. The North American fireflies of the genus Photuris DeJean a modification of Barber's key (Coleoptera; Lampyridae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 21(4): 106–116.
Melsheimer, F.V. 1806. A catalogue of the insects of Pennsylvania. W. D. Lepper, Hanover, PA. vi + 60 pp. (pg. 39-40)
Moiseff,, A. and J. Copeland. 1994. Mechanisms of synchrony in the North American firefly Photinus carolinus (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). Journal of Insect Behavior 8(3): 395–407.
Moiseff, A. and J. Copeland. 2010. Firefly synchrony: A behavioral strategy to minimize visual clutter. Science 329: 181
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Morse, E.S. 1916. Fireflies flashing in unison. Science 43: 169-170.
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Oliver, E. 1911. Revision des Lampyrides. Revue Scientifique du Bourbonnaise et du Centre de la France 24: 63-85.
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Santiago-Blay, J.A. and S. Medina-Gaud. 1986. Scientific Notes: Notes on the biology of Aspisoma ignitum (L.) (Coleoptera: Lampyridae): A new firefly record for Puerto Rico. The Florida Entomologist 69(2): 440-444.
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Sivinski, J.M., J.E. Lloyd, S.N. Beshers, L.R. Davis, R.G. Sivinski, S.R. Wing, R.T. Sullivan, P.E. Cushing and E. Petersson. 1998. A natural history of Pleotomodes needhami Green (Coleoptera: Lampyridae): a firefly symbiont of ants. The Coleopterists Bulletin, 52(1): 23-30.
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Stanger-Hall, K.F., J.E. Lloyd and D.M. Hillis. 2007. Phylogeny of North American fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae): Implications for the evolution of light signals. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 45(1): 33-49.
Thancharoen, A. 2012. Well managed firefly tourism: A good tool for firefly conservation in Thailand. Lampyrid 2(1) 1-7.
Usener, J.L. 2004. Phylogenetic revision of desert fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Microphotus). Unpublished Master of Science thesis. Texas A&M University, Department of Entomology, College Station. vii + 35 pp.
Usener J.L. and A.I. Cognato. 2006. Phylogenetic review of desert firefly taxonomic characters (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Microphotus). Insect Systematics & Evolution 37(1): 71-80.
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August 30, 2016 © Mike Quinn / entomike@gmail.com / Texas Entomology / Texas Beetle Resources / Photo Techniques