Lampyrinae
Encyclopedia
The Lampyrinae are a large subfamily of fireflies (Lampyridae). The exact delimitation, and the internal systematics
, are a matter of debate; for long this group was used as a "wastebin taxon
" to hold any fireflies with insufficiently resolved relationships. Regardless, they are very diverse even as a good monophyletic group, containing flashing and continuous-glow fireflies from the Holarctic
and some tropical forms too. The ancestral Lampyrinae probably had no or very primitive light signals; in any case several modern lineages have returned to the pheromone
communication of their ancestors independently it seems.
The Cyphonocerinae
were once contained herein but they are well distinct. The Psilocladinae on the other hand seem to be a de facto junior synonym of the tribe
Photinini
, but this requires further study. The Amydetinae are a former subfamily that is nowadays largely but not completely contained herein too. The tribe Pleotomini seems to be a specialized lineage of Lampyrini
and is here included therein, while the Photinini seem to comprise two rather distinct lineages, one of which might warrant separation as tribe Phosphaenini. Meanwhile, the Cratomorphini
could just be an assemblage of unrelated ancient Lampyrinae and altogether invalid as a tribe.
With these changes and uncertainties, several genera
are of very badly resolved position in this group; for example:
The genus Pristolycus is better tentatively included in the Luciolinae
.
Systematics
Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of terrestrial life, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees...
, are a matter of debate; for long this group was used as a "wastebin taxon
Wastebin taxon
Wastebasket taxon is a term used in some taxonomic circles to refer to a taxon that has the sole purpose of classifying organisms that do not fit anywhere else. They are typically defined by their lack of one or more distinct character states or by their not belonging to one or more other taxa...
" to hold any fireflies with insufficiently resolved relationships. Regardless, they are very diverse even as a good monophyletic group, containing flashing and continuous-glow fireflies from the Holarctic
Holarctic
The Holarctic ecozone refers to the habitats found throughout the northern continents of the world as a whole. This region is divided into the Palearctic, consisting of Northern Africa and all of Eurasia, with the exception of Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, and the Nearctic,...
and some tropical forms too. The ancestral Lampyrinae probably had no or very primitive light signals; in any case several modern lineages have returned to the pheromone
Pheromone
A pheromone is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting outside the body of the secreting individual to impact the behavior of the receiving individual...
communication of their ancestors independently it seems.
The Cyphonocerinae
Cyphonocerinae
The Cyphonocerinae are a subfamily of fireflies with only a few handful of species in 2 genera found in North America and Eurasia...
were once contained herein but they are well distinct. The Psilocladinae on the other hand seem to be a de facto junior synonym of the tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
Photinini
Photinini
The Photinini are a large tribe of fireflies in the subfamily Lampyrinae. Photinus pyralis is famous in biotechnology for its luciferase gene. This is sometimes employed as a marker gene; genetically modified organisms which contain it start to glow like the firefly when brought in contact with...
, but this requires further study. The Amydetinae are a former subfamily that is nowadays largely but not completely contained herein too. The tribe Pleotomini seems to be a specialized lineage of Lampyrini
Lampyrini
The Lampyrini are a tribe of fireflies in the large subfamily Lampyrinae. The lineage formerly separated as Pleotomini seems to be a specialized offshoot of the Lampyrini not too distant from the type genus Lampyris and is therefore included here. This tribe occurs throughout the Holarctic and...
and is here included therein, while the Photinini seem to comprise two rather distinct lineages, one of which might warrant separation as tribe Phosphaenini. Meanwhile, the Cratomorphini
Cratomorphini
The Cratomorphini are a disputed tribe of fireflies of the large subfamily Lampyrinae. The genera placed here often contain well-sized members of their family. The larvae of many species climb trees to feed on snails. This group contains a few "lightning bugs" from North America, e.g. the genus...
could just be an assemblage of unrelated ancient Lampyrinae and altogether invalid as a tribe.
With these changes and uncertainties, several genera
Genera
Genera is a commercial operating system and development environment for Lisp machines developed by Symbolics. It is essentially a fork of an earlier operating system originating on the MIT AI Lab's Lisp machines which Symbolics had used in common with LMI and Texas Instruments...
are of very badly resolved position in this group; for example:
- Amydetes
- Lamprigera
- Lucidina (Photinini/Phosphaenini?)
The genus Pristolycus is better tentatively included in the Luciolinae
Luciolinae
The Luciolinae are among the largest subfamilies of fireflies . They seem to be all "flashing" fireflies...
.