BIOLOGY OF SOME COMMON LAMPYRID^. 



45 



are a lighter yellow. They are finely granulate and pubescent. 

 The females resemble the males except that they are slightly 

 larger and their abdomens, frequently distended with eggs, 

 project considerably beyond the elytra. The eyes of the male 

 are larger than those of the female. In the male the light-organs 

 cover the entire sternites of the sixth and seventh abdominal 



FIG. i. FIG. 2. 



FIG. i. Photinus scintillans male, ventral view of abdomen. The shaded 

 portion on the sixth and seventh abdominal segments represents the adult light- 

 organ (AO). 



FIG. 2. Photinus scintillans female, ventral view of abdomen. The shaded 

 area on the sixth abdominal segment represents the adult light-organ (AO). 



segments, while in the female the organs occupy only a small 

 area at the center of the sixth sternite (Fig. i and Fig. 2). The 

 beetle measures from 5.5 to 8 mm. 



These insects were found by LeConte in Massachusetts, 

 Pennsylvania and Kansas. Blatchley found them in Indiana. 



The natural habitat of this species appears to be very similar 

 to that of Photurus pennsylvanica. Yet, however, they are 

 much more widely distributed, and are often found in drier 

 localities than is characteristic of this species. They are very 

 common about central New York, being our most common 

 firefly. They were found very abundant at Ithaca, New York 

 in the City Cemetery on Stewart Avenue, and, in fact, on the 

 campus, and on the lawns near many of the private houses. 



The period of emergence for this species varies from about 

 June i to July 20, depending on the season. 



