Lucidota atra

Lucidota atra, the black firefly or woodland lucy,[2] is a diurnal species of firefly — a member of the Lampyridae family of beetles (order Coleoptera).[3][4][5]

Lucidota atra
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Lampyridae
Genus: Lucidota
Species:
L. atra
Binomial name
Lucidota atra
(G. Olivier, 1790)

Range

Lucidota atra are found in eastern North America, excluding Mexico. Their range extends west to Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.[2]

Description

Adult body length is 9 to 12 mm (0.35 to 0.47 in).[6] This firefly has segmented, conspicuous, black antennae that are serrate, with males having larger antennae.[7]: 84 [8] The pronotum extends over the head and is usually red and yellow with a medial black stripe or patch,[6] but may be dark overall in some individuals.[9] The compound eyes are smaller than those of nocturnal species like Photinus pyralis.[10] The elytra are black or brown-black[6] and have granulated texture.[9] The light organ is greatly reduced and difficult to discern in the adult.[7]: 30 

Behavior

This is a firefly that flies actively in daylight. Males fly low, about 1 to 6 ft (0.3 to 1.8 m) from the ground, through forests in midday, seeking females, which are often perched on low vegetation. Most are seen in the late morning to early afternoon.[8] Male Lucidota atra can identify female mating partners by sensing the female's pheromones with their antennae.[11] Lucidota atra express a characteristic set of odorant receptor genes in their antennae.[10] Both males and females are able to fly.[8]

Life Cycle

Adults

Adults emerge in early to midsummer. In eastern Canada, larvae eclose beginning in late May, and adult numbers peak in late June to mid-July.[12] In the southern Appalachians, numbers peak in mid- to late June.[8]

Eggs, Larvae, and Pupae

Once the adults mate, the female lays eggs that hatch in about 2 to 3 weeks.[8] The flightless larvae live in moist environments, especially decaying wood, and prey on invertebrates with soft bodies, such as snails and slugs.[2] The larvae or pupae are inactive in the winter, becoming adults in early to midsummer.[13]

Habitat

L. atra are found primarily in open forest or shady open areas.[8]

Light Production

Adults have no working lanterns, although they often have pale terminal abdominal segments. Larvae are bioluminescent.[8]

References
  1. Fallon, C. 2021. Lucidota atra. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T164015516A166771328. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T164015516A166771328.en. Accessed on 29 August 2023.
  2. Fallon, C. (1 July 2022). "Lucidota atra: Black Firefly". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  3. "Lucidota atra Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). doi:10.5066/F7KH0KBK. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  4. "Lucidota atra (G. Oliver, 1790) in GBIF Secretariat". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. 2021. doi:10.15468/39omei. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  5. "Firefly (Lucidota atra)". Invasive.org Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. October 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  6. Luk, Stephen P.L.; Marshall, Stephen A.; Branham, Marc A. (2011). "The Fireflies (Coleptera; Lampyridae) of Ontario". Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification (16). doi:10.3752/cjai.2011.16.
  7. Faust, Lynn Frierson (2017). Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning Bugs. University of Georgia Press. ISBN 978-0-8203-4872-8.
  8. Cresswell, Stephen (2020). "Lucidota atra Black Firefly". American Insects. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022.
  9. Svistunov, Victor (2022). What's That Smell? Expression of Odorant Receptors in Lucidota atra, the Black Firefly (BSc thesis). Bucknell University. 614. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  10. Lloyd, James E. (1 April 1972). "Chemical Communication in Fireflies". Environmental Entomology. 1 (2): 265–266. doi:10.1093/ee/1.2.265.
  11. Majka, Christopher G. (2012). "The Lampyridae (Coleoptera) of Atlantic Canada" (PDF). Journal of the Acadian Entomological Society. 8: 11–29. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  12. Lewis, Sara (2016). Silent Sparks, the Wondrous World of Fireflies. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-16268-3.

Further reading
  • Lobl, I.; Smetana, A., eds. (2007). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Volume 4: Elateroidea - Derodontoidea - Bostrichoidea - Lymexyloidea - Cleroidea - Cucujoidea. Apollo Books. ISBN 978-8788757675.
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