Photinus cookii, or Cook's firefly[2] is a species of day-active firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae.[3] It is found in North America in the Eastern USA, including Florida and Texas.[4][5][6]
| Photinus cookii | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Lampyridae |
| Genus: | Photinus |
| Species: | P. cookii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Photinus cookii Green, 1956
| |
Description
editP. cookii is a small beetle, with adults measuring 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. The wing covers, or elytra, are dark, with wide, light-colored side margins. The head shield, or pronotum, is pale yellow with a dark bar in the center, reaching from the top of the pronotum to the base. The body has short hairs, which are visible with a microscope. P. cookii does not have working lanterns on its abdomen, although there may be small vestigial lanterns or light patches on the final 2 segments. The males and the females are similar in appearance. [2][7]
Etymology
editThe genus name Photinus is from the Greek word for shining or bright.[8] The species was first described by John Wagener Green in 1956.[7] The species is named as an honorific for Mr. Carl Cook, who had collected the holotype male and other specimens in Carilhope, Kentucky, 11-VII-1946. The species name is therefore noun in genitive case.
Several years later Lloyd (1966) [9] published an overview of Photinus in USA, and wrote the name as "Photinus cooki" (i.e. altering the ending to a single "i" as "cooki"), perhaps considering it as a correction; but per nomenclatural regulations in ICZN 31.1, the original spelling of "cookii" is admissible and therefore it is subsequently retained.
Life Cycle
editBeetles such as P. cookii go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Photinus fireflies spend the majority of their lives as larvae, which are bioluminescent and likely live below the soil surface, eating snails, worms, and other soft-bodied invertebrates. Adult P. cookii appear in summer, in June and July.[1][2]
Behavior
editP. cookii is a non-flashing firefly, active during the day rather than at night. It is believed that these fireflies locate a mate using pheromones.[2]
Habitat
editAdults are seen during the day in gardens, yards, open woodlands, fencerows, and open areas.[2]
Range
editThis species has been reported from Missouri to the north, Alabama to the south, North Carolina to the east, and Texas to the west.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c Walker, A. (2021). "Photinus cookii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T164076669A166771798. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T164076669A166771798.en. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Faust, Lynn Frierson (2017). Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning Bugs. University of Georgia Press. ISBN 978-0-8203-4872-8.
- ^ "Photinus cookii". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
- ^ "Photinus cookii". GBIF. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
- ^ "Photinus cookii species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
- ^ "Photinus_cookii". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
- ^ a b Green, J.W. (1956). "Revision of the Nearctic species of Photinus (Lampyridae: Coleoptera)" (PDF). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. Fourth. 28 (15): 561–613. ISSN 0068-547X.
- ^ "φωτεινός". Wiktionary, the free dictionary. 17 March 2023.
- ^ Lloyd, J.E. (1966). "Studies on the Flash Communication System in Photinus Fireflies". Miscellaneous publications (University of Michigan. Museum of Zoology) (130): 1–95.
Further reading
edit- Green, J. W. (1956). "Revision of the Nearctic species of Photinus (Lampyridae: Coleoptera)" (PDF). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. Fourth Series. 28: 561–613. ISSN 0068-547X.
- Lobl, I.; Smetana, A., eds. (2007). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Volume 4: Elateroidea - Derodontoidea - Bostrichoidea - Lymexyloidea - Cleroidea - Cucujoidea. Apollo Books. ISBN 978-8788757675.