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Florida Entomologist 
(Formerly The Florida Buggist) 
Official Organ of the Florida Entomological Society 
VOL. IV FALL NUMBER NO. 2 
SEPTEMBER, 1920 
LUMINOUS BEETLES OF FLORIDA 
To the Editor of The Entomologist: 
I have been interested in the habits of various groups of Co- 
leoptera for some time, and thought I would write you regard- 
ing a subject which might be of interest to the readers of The 
Entomologist relative to luminous beetles in Florida. The av- 
erage layman is quite familiar with the fact that certain species 
of the beetles are luminous and this knowledge is invariaby con- 
nected with the group commonly known as “fireflies” or Lampy- 
rids. Whenever a beetle flashes a lightat night invariably it is 
acclaimed a “firefly”. In Florida we have two species of lumi- 
nous Elaterids scientifically known as Pyrophorus phsoderus 
Germ. and Pyrophorus atlanticus Hyslop. I have recently col- 
lected a large series of Pyrophorus atlanticus Hyslop in this 
section of Florida. The species was observed flying at dusk of 
day in fields where species of the so-called “‘fireflies’” were also 
present. The distinction between the luminous Elaterids and 
Lampyrids is observed in both the location of the luminous or- 
gans and their habit of flash. The Elaterids have their light 
vesicles situated on the pronotum while those of the Lampyrids 
or “fireflies” are situated on the ventral of the posterior seg- 
ments of the abdomen. The flash of the Lampyrids is intermit- 
tent while at flight while that produced by the Elaterids is quite 
constant. It was also observed that the males of Pyrophorus at- 
lanticus Hyslop were present in greater numbers on the wing 
while those of the opposite sex were scarce in comparison and 
were for the most part resting on the foliage displaying a light 
at times quite constant, apparently waiting the coming of the 
males. The flashes of the Elaterid were only to be observed but 
a short while at the dusk of day while the Lampyrids continued 
their activities into the night. 
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