COLEOPTERA: Lampyridae

The common name for this family is firefly/ lightning bug. Many species produce a “cold light” which lacks frequencies inboth infrared and ultraviolet. There are over 2,000 species known worldwide.

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Photinus pyralis (Linnaeus, 1767). This is one of the most common species of firefly in eastern North America. Flying adult males often make a “J” shaped pattern with their light when flying at dusk. This specimen was collected by Mark DuBois in Marshall Co., Illinois.

Photuris pensylvanica DeGeer, 1774. Yes, there is only one “n” at the start of this species name. The original spelling of the species was Latinized with a single “n” at the start. This is the state insect of Pennsylvania. This species is a carnivore (feeding on other insects as well as land snails and earthworms). This specimen was collected by Mark DuBois in Marshall Co., Illinois.