Photuris is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of fireflies

Firefly

Lampyridae is a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, and commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous crepuscular use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies produce a "cold light", with no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies...

 (beetle

Beetle

Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...

s of the family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 Lampyridae) wherein are the femme fatale

Femme fatale

A femme fatale is a mysterious and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. She is an archetype of literature and art...

 fireflies of North America

North America

North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

. This common name refers to the fact that the females of these predatory beetle

Beetle

Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...

s mimic the light signals of other firefly species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

' males, to attract, kill, and eat them. Their flashing "lightning bug

Lightning Bug

Lightning Bug can refer to:* A firefly, particularly North American Photinus, Photuris and Pyractomena* Lightning Bug , a 2004 horror film by writer/director Robert Hall* Ryan Model 147 Lightning Bug, an unmanned aerial vehicle...

" signals seem to have evolved independently and eventually adapted

Adaptation

An adaptation in biology is a trait with a current functional role in the life history of an organism that is maintained and evolved by means of natural selection. An adaptation refers to both the current state of being adapted and to the dynamic evolutionary process that leads to the adaptation....

 to those of their prey, mainly unrelated Lampyrinae

Lampyrinae

The Lampyrinae are a large subfamily of fireflies . 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...

, such as Photinus

Photinus (beetle)

The rover fireflies are a genus of fireflies . They are the type genus of tribe Photinini in subfamily Lampyrinae. This genus contains, for example, the common eastern firefly , the state insect of Tennessee.Male Photinus beetles emit a flashing light pattern to signal for females...

 (rover fireflies) or Pyractomena.

The Pennsylvania firefly (P. pennsylvanica) is the state insect of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

.

Species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 include:

• Photuris cinctipennis
• Photuris lucicrescens
• Photuris pennsylvanica
  Photuris pennsylvanica
  Photuris pennsylvanica, known by the common names Pennsylvania firefly, lightning bug, Pennsylvania lightning bug, and glowworm, is a species of firefly from the United States and Canada.-Description:...
  
   – Pennsylvania firefly
• Photuris quadrifulgens
• Photuris tremulans
• Photuris versicolor