Beetles of North Carolina
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Family (Alpha):
CARABIDAE - Cicindelinae - Tiger Beetles
CARABIDAE - Trechinae - No Common Name
CERAMBYCIDAE - Aseminae - Longhorns
CERAMBYCIDAE - Cerambycinae - Longhorns
CERAMBYCIDAE - Lamiinae - Flat-faced Longhorns
CERAMBYCIDAE - Lepturinae - Flower Longhorns
CERAMBYCIDAE - Parandrinae - Longhorns
CERAMBYCIDAE - Prioninae - Longhorns
CERAMBYCIDAE - Spondylidinae - Longhorns
DISTENIIDAE - Disteniinae - No Common Name
LAMPYRIDAE - -
LAMPYRIDAE - Lampyrinae - Fireflies
LAMPYRIDAE - Photurinae - Fireflies
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
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LAMPYRIDAE Members:
Ellychnia corrusca
Lucidota atra
Lucidota punctata
Phausis unidentified species
Phausis new species 1
Phausis reticulata
Photinus australis
Photinus carolinus
Photinus consanguineus
Photinus ignitus
Photinus indictus
Photinus marginellus
Photinus pyralis
Photinus pyralis complex
Photinus sabulosus
Photinus scintillans
Photinus umbratus
Pyractomena angulata
Pyractomena borealis
Pyractomena lucifera
Pyractomena marginalis
Pyropyga decipiens
Pyropyga minuta
Photuris frontalis
Photuris pennsylvanica
Photuris versicolor
Photuris versicolor complex
Pollaclasis bifaria
Members of
Pyractomena
:
Pyractomena angulata
Pyractomena borealis
Pyractomena lucifera
Pyractomena marginalis
2 NC
Records
Pyractomena lucifera
- No Common Name
Photo by: Brian Bockhahn
Photo by: Brian Bockhahn
Taxonomy
Family:
LAMPYRIDAE
Subfamily:
Lampyrinae
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions:
Faust (2017)
Online Resources:
BugGuide
,
Wikipedia
,
GBIF
iNaturalist
Comments:
The pronotum of this species has a narrow central dark bar. The pink area that borders this bar is wide on the posterior half of the pronotum but forms just a narrow edge towards the anterior. The remainder of the pronotum is mainly filled with pale yellow, with a narrow dark brown spot located along the central edge of the pronotum. The elytra are dark, with yellow edges along both the outer and inner edges (see photographs and description in Faust, 2017). Males produce brief pale orange flashes at 5-7 second intervals (at 71 F). Females answer with a prolonged, one second-long flash, sometimes with an afterglow (Faust, 2017).
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]:
9-10 mm (Faust, 2017)
Structural Features:
The posterior corners of the pronotum are not flared, as is true for other members of this genus; instead, they are slightly pinched in (Faust, 2017)
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 inhabits freshwater marshes, especially where cattails are present (Faust, 2017)
See also Habitat Account for
General Cattail and Tall Grass Marshes
Diet:
Larvae perch close to the water line on cattails, water hyacinths, and other emergent marsh plants. They can capture prey both above and below the water line. In addition to arthropods, they have been observed to prey on gastropods and leeches (Buschman, 1984).
Observation Methods:
The males can be observed producing their mating flashes as they fly just over the tops of cattails and other marsh vegetation.
Abundance/Frequency:
Adult Phenology:
This species flies mainly in June into August in the northern part of its range (Faust, 2017)
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
GU S2S4
State Protection:
Comments:
Photo Gallery for
Pyractomena lucifera
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Dare Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Dare Co.
Comment:
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