Biology:Lucidota atra
| Lucidota atra | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Lampyridae |
| Genus: | Lucidota |
| Species: | L. atra
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| Binomial name | |
| Lucidota atra (G. Olivier, 1790)
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Lucidota atra, the black firefly or woodland lucy,[2] is a diurnal species of firefly — a member of the Lampyridae family of beetles (order Coleoptera).[3][4][5]
Range
Lucidota atra are found in eastern North America, excluding Mexico. Their range extends west to Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.[2]
Description
Adult body length is 9 to 12 mm (0.35 to 0.47 in).[6] This firefly has segmented, conspicuous, black antennae that are serrate, with males having larger antennae.[7]:84[8] The pronotum extends over the head and is usually red and yellow with a medial black stripe or patch,[6] but may be dark overall in some individuals.[9] The compound eyes are smaller than those of nocturnal species like Photinus pyralis.[10] The elytra are black or brown-black[6] and have granulated texture.[9] The light organ is greatly reduced and difficult to discern in the adult.[7]:30
Behavior
This is a firefly that flies actively in daylight. Males fly low, about 1 to 6 ft (0.3 to 1.8 m) from the ground, through forests in midday, seeking females, which are often perched on low vegetation. Most are seen in the late morning to early afternoon.[8] Male Lucidota atra can identify female mating partners by sensing the female's pheromones with their antennae.[11] Lucidota atra express a characteristic set of odorant receptor genes in their antennae.[10] Both males and females are able to fly.[8]
Life Cycle
Adults
Adults emerge in early to midsummer. In eastern Canada, larvae eclose beginning in late May, and adult numbers peak in late June to mid-July.[12] In the southern Appalachians, numbers peak in mid- to late June.[8]
Eggs, Larvae, and Pupae
Once the adults mate, the female lays eggs that hatch in about 2 to 3 weeks.[8] The flightless larvae live in moist environments, especially decaying wood, and prey on invertebrates with soft bodies, such as snails and slugs.[2] The larvae or pupae are inactive in the winter, becoming adults in early to midsummer.[13]
Habitat
L. atra are found primarily in open forest or shady open areas.[8]
Light Production
Adults have no working lanterns, although they often have pale terminal abdominal segments. Larvae are bioluminescent.[8]
References
- ↑ Fallon, C. (2021). "Lucidota atra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T164015516A166771328. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T164015516A166771328.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/164015516/166771328. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Fallon, C. (1 July 2022). "Lucidota atra: Black Firefly". Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.747308/Lucidota_atra.
- ↑ "Lucidota atra Report". doi:10.5066/F7KH0KBK. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=722514. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ↑ "Lucidota atra (G. Oliver, 1790) in GBIF Secretariat". 2021. doi:10.15468/39omei. https://www.gbif.org/species/1162734. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ↑ Cotinis (17 July 2021). "Lucidota atra Species Information". https://bugguide.net/node/view/5361. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Firefly (Lucidota atra)". October 2018. https://www.invasive.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5512176.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Luk, Stephen P.L.; Marshall, Stephen A.; Branham, Marc A. (2011). "The Fireflies (Coleptera; Lampyridae) of Ontario". Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification (16). doi:10.3752/cjai.2011.16.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 Faust, Lynn Frierson (2017). Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning Bugs. University of Georgia Press. ISBN 978-0-8203-4872-8.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Cresswell, Stephen (2020). "Lucidota atra Black Firefly". http://www.americaninsects.net/b/lucidota-atra.html.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Svistunov, Victor (2022). What's That Smell? Expression of Odorant Receptors in Lucidota atra, the Black Firefly (BSc thesis). Bucknell University. 614. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ↑ "Chemical Communication in Fireflies". Environmental Entomology 1 (2): 265–266. 1 April 1972. doi:10.1093/ee/1.2.265.
- ↑ "The Lampyridae (Coleoptera) of Atlantic Canada". Journal of the Acadian Entomological Society 8: 11–29. 2012. http://www.acadianes.ca/journal/papers/majka_11-13.pdf. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ↑ Lewis, Sara (2016). Silent Sparks, the Wondrous World of Fireflies. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-16268-3.
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q10787174 entry
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