Pyrophorus

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Ordo: Coleoptera
Subordo: Polyphaga
Infraordo: Elateriformia
Superfamilia: Elateroidea

Familia: Elateridae
Subfamilia: Agrypninae
Tribus: Pyrophorini
Genus: Pyrophorus
Species: P. ardens – P. divergens – P. iluminans – P. lychniferus – P. noctilucus – P. nyctophanus – P. plagiophthalmus – P. punctatissimus
Name
Pyrophorus Illiger, 1809

Pyrophorus noctilucus

Pyrophorus (also known as fire beetles) is a genus of click beetle (family Elateridae). They are one of several genera in the tribe Pyrophorini, all of which are bioluminescent. Their bioluminescence is similar to that of another group of beetles, the fireflies, although click beetles do not flash, but remain constantly glowing (though they can control the intensity; for example, they become brighter when touched by a potential predator). They have two luminescent spots at the posterior corners of the pronotum, and another brighter light organ on the most-anterior surface of the ventral abdomen. This light organ is even brighter and can only be seen when in flight. Bioluminescent click beetles are found throughout tropical, subtropical and temperate America. Species from Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and Cuba are now in different genera in the tribe Pyrophorini, such as Deilelater and Ignelater.[1]

Adult Pyrophorus beetles feed on pollen and sometimes small insects, such as aphids or scale insects. Their larvae feed on various plant materials and invertebrates, including the larvae of other beetles. Eggs are luminous and are deposited either on or in the soil. Larvae, like eggs, are luminous. They grow slowly and pupate after an uncertain period of time, but perhaps several years after hatching.

Pyrophorus nyctophanus larvae live in tunnels in the outer layers of termite mounds on the cerrado of Brazil. During summertime they glow at night, attracting prey in the form of other insects.[2]
List of species

Pyrophorus angustus Blanchard, 1843
Pyrophorus avunculus Costa, 1972
Pyrophorus canaliculatus Eschscholtz, 1829
Pyrophorus carinatus Eschscholtz, 1829
Pyrophorus clarus Germar, 1841
Pyrophorus cucujus Illiger, 1807
Pyrophorus dulcifer Costa, 1972
Pyrophorus evexus Costa, 1972
Pyrophorus expeditus Costa, 1972
Pyrophorus foveolatus Germar, 1841
Pyrophorus ignigenus Germar, 1841
Pyrophorus indistinctus Germar, 1841
Pyrophorus indulcatus Costa, 1972
Pyrophorus ingens Costa, 1972
Pyrophorus jocundus Costa, 1972
Pyrophorus limbatus Candèze, 1863
Pyrophorus lucidus Candèze, 1863
Pyrophorus lucifer Illiger, 1807
Pyrophorus magnus Costa, 1972
Pyrophorus melitus Costa, 1972
Pyrophorus mellifluus Costa, 1972
Pyrophorus mutatus Candèze, 1893
Pyrophorus nyctophanus Germar, 1841
Pyrophorus nigropunctatus Drapiez, 1820
Pyrophorus noctilucus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Pyrophorus phosphorescens Laporte, 1840
Pyrophorus pisticus Costa, 1972
Pyrophorus plagiophthalmus Germar, 1841
Pyrophorus punctatissimus Blanchard, 1843
Pyrophorus pyropoecilus Germar, 1841
Pyrophorus strabus Germar, 1841
Pyrophorus stupendus Costa, 1972
Pyrophorus tuberculifer Eschscholtz, 1829
Pyrophorus validus Costa, 1972
Pyrophorus veriloquus Costa, 1972

References

BugGuide

Hogue, C.L. (1993). Latin American Insects and Entomology. University of California Press. p. 256. ISBN 9780520078499. Retrieved 2015-06-23.

Elateridae in SYNOPSIS OF THE DESCRIBED COLEOPTERA OF THE WORLD
Biolib