Beetles of North Carolina

Family (Alpha):
Scientific Name: Common Name:

View	LAMPYRIDAE Members:	Sole representative of Ellychnia in NC	59 NC Records
Ellychnia corrusca - Winter Firefly

Photo by: Vin Stanton

Taxonomy

Family: LAMPYRIDAE	Subfamily: Lampyrinae
Species Status: Probably belongs to a complex of several species (Evans, 2014; Faust, 2017)

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Evans (2014)	Online Resources: BugGuide, Google, Wikipedia, GBIF, iNaturalist
Comments: The pronotum is dark centrally, bordered by pink crescents followed by an outer yellow edge. The elytra are dark and possess three to four indistinct longitudinal ridges. Fine hairs on the elytra produce a greenish or golden tint, depending on the light (Evans, 2014; Faust, 2017).
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: 9-18 mm (Faust, 2017)
Structural Features: The first antennomere is longer than the third; the second is short and is long as wide (Evans, 2014)

Distribution in North Carolina


County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: This species is associated with large hardwood trees but occurs in both closed-canopy forests and open parklands where trees may be fairly isolated.

Diet: Adults feed on sap and flower nectar (Rooney and Lewis, 2000)

Observation Methods: This species is diurnal and does not produce a flash (larvae can glow). Individuals can be found during the day by searching tree trunks.

Abundance/Frequency:

Adult Phenology: Adults are active in the winter and spring, when most other species of fireflies are not present. Our sole record from the summer comes from an observation made at a high elevation site in the mountains.

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S4S5

State Protection: As with other North Carolina insects, no state laws provide them any protection. Permits must be obtained, however, to collect them in State Parks and other nature preserves

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Ellychnia corrusca - Winter Firefly
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn Macon Co. Comment:	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn Macon Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn Macon Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Haywood Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Haywood Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Vin Stanton Buncombe Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Vin Stanton Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: J. A. Anderson Yancey Co. Comment:	Recorded by: L. Amos Vance Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment:	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: T. DeSantis Camden Co. Comment:

Ellychnia corrusca - Winter Firefly

Photo Gallery for Ellychnia corrusca - Winter Firefly