Black Firefly - (Lucidota atra)

The Black Firefly has light organs, but prefers using aerial pheromones instead of bioluminescence to communicate presence and position.

Staff Writer (8/4/2017): Black Fireflies have completely black elytra (wing covering). The pronotum ('shoulders') is round and yellow, extending over the head. In the center of it is a large black spot with red blotches on both sides.

Black Firefly males may use their light organ when emerging from the pupal case, but it does not use it as an adult. Chemical pheromones are sent through the air to inform members of the species that they are in the area. Males and females retain reduced light organs so they are fireflies despite staying in the dark. Like all fireflies, Black Fireflies can be found in woodlands, forests, parks, fields and meadows near water. This species prefers areas with moisture and humidity. Look for them in the air, on the ground, and on plants.

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Details of the:
Black Firefly

Category: Beetle
Common name: Black Firefly
Scientific Name: Lucidota atra

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Lampyridae

Genus: Lucidota

Species: atra

Size (Adult, Length): 7mm to 13mm (0.28in to 0.51in)

Identifying Colors: black, yellow, red

Additional Descriptors: glowing, light, flying

North American Reach (Though Not Limited To*): Alabama; Arkansas; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; Nebraska;New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia; Wisconsin; British Columbia; New Brunswick; Newfoundland and Labrador; Nova Scotia; Ontario; Prince Edward Island; Quebec; Mexico

* Keep in mind that an insect's reach is not limited by lines on a map and therefore may appear in areas/regions/states beyond those listed above.

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