Phausis inaccensa
Phausis inaccensa, also known as the shadow ghost,[2] is a species of firefly in the family of beetles known as Lampyridae.[3][4] It is found in central and eastern United States.[1] The larviform females of the species are bioluminescent, whereas the males are winged but lanternless.[5]
| Phausis inaccensa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Lampyridae |
| Subfamily: | Lamprohizinae |
| Genus: | Phausis |
| Species: | P. inaccensa |
| Binomial name | |
| Phausis inaccensa LeConte, 1878 | |
Description
Phausis inaccensa are very small fireflies, the size of a short grain of rice, measuring about 0.2 in (4 - 6 mm) in length. Males have textured wing covers and "windshields" on their head shields, or pronotum. They do not have lanterns, but many males do have pale patches on their terminal abdominal segments. Females are pale yellow and do not fly.[2]
Life Cycle
Adults
Adult male P. inaccensa fly around as dark falls in the early spring, searching for the glowing females that are perched on leaf litter, low vegetation, or sticks on the ground. The females turn their glowing tails upward so they can be spotted by the males. Females can mate more than one time.[2]
Eggs and Larvae
Once a female lays her clutch of about 25 eggs, she guards them until she dies in one to two weeks. The eggs hatch approximately 35 days after they are laid. The larvae are extremely tiny, approximately 0.05 in (1 - 2 mm) and are bioluminescent.[2]
Range
P. inaccensa has been recorded in the eastern and central United States, including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and the Great Lakes regions of Michigan and Minnesota.[1]
Habitat
Adults are found both in dry forested ridgetops and in damper areas such as near forest streams and river bottoms.[2]
Light Production
Females have two spots on their upturned tails that glow to attract males. Males do not have lanterns.[2]
References
- Fallon, C. 2021. Phausis inaccensa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T164070319A166771708. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T164070319A166771708.en. Accessed on 29 August 2023.
- Faust, Lynn Frierson (2017). Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning Bugs. University of Georgia Press. ISBN 978-0-8203-4872-8.
- "Phausis inaccensa Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
- "Phausis inaccensa Species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
- "Bringing Light to the Lives of the Shadow Ghosts" American Entomologist. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
Further reading
- Fender, Kenneth M. (1966). "The genus Phausis in America north of Mexico (Coleoptera-Lampyridae)". Northwest Science. 40: 83–95.
- Lobl, I.; Smetana, A., eds. (2007). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Volume 4: Elateroidea - Derodontoidea - Bostrichoidea - Lymexyloidea - Cleroidea - Cucujoidea. Apollo Books. ISBN 978-8788757675.