#black firefly

[onenicebugperday]

Hi!

I found this firefly(?) at a cookout the other day

Any idea what kind? (Massachusetts)

Hello! Looks like a black firefly, Lucidota atra :)

[wildflowers-of-southern-ontario]

Black Firefly Lucidota atra Lampyridae

Photograph taken on June 18, 2023, at Purdon Conservation Area, Lanark Highlands, Ontario, Canada.

[dendroica]

Black Firefly, Lucidota atra (by me)

[onenicebugperday]

@raeloganthesonic06fangirl submitted: Hey, Oklahoma again! Got a handful of bug pics I've been holding onto until the blog opened again, including what I think is a firefly and some sort of larva that was found on our first harvest of cherries. I'm pretty sure the first one is some kind of Wolf Spider, but I'm not sure what kind of Jumping Spider is the second image (I did get pretty close before they skedaddled off, so this is the best picture)

Great pals! I don't recognize the first spider. It doesn't remind me of a wolf, but it's possible. I'd need to be able to see the eyes. The jumper is a bold jumping spider. The beetle looks like a black firefly, and I'm not sure on the larva! Too small for me to ID. I'd assume moth or beetle over fly, though, since it has a visible head. If anyone recognizes the spider or the larva, feel free to comment!

[onenicebugperday]

Sorry, I've been sending a lot of pics recently, but I haven't been able to ID this fella on my own. I really like how the coloring on the underside kinda goes from pink to white, as well as the odd fibrous thing on their back end. It kinda gets sucked up when they move but comes back out once they're done? found New England USA.

It’s a firefly larva! Likely Lucidota atra, the black firefly. I’m afraid I don’t know enough about them to know what’s coming out its back end, though. Anyone else know? Reminds me of hair pencils or coremata on moths!

[dendroica]

Black Firefly, Lucidota atra (by me)

[shownumetal]

oh very fancy antennae on this lad. not sure i’ve seen this kind before!

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Black Firefly - Lucidota atra

Here we find the rest of the images captured from the daytime flying Fireflies of the managed wilderness. Researching this specie a little more, it’s become apparent that neither males nor females can actively use bioluminescence upon reaching their adult form. Compared to other varieties of Firefly whose entire rear abdominal segments function as light generation, this specie’s light organs are substantially reduced. They are reported to appear as miniscule yellow spots on the abdomen’s last plate (for females) or two plates (for males). With adequate magnification equipment, you’d be hard pressed to discover them. As a shorthand to tell males and females apart, the Black Firefly males tend to have larger, more developed antennae (likely with more prominent serrations too). Think about it in a similar fashion to how some adult Moth males have feathered antennae to increase their detection abilities. This antennae difference may be necessary since without light to signal and communicate to potential mates, males will need to register and follow pheromone cues from females in order to find them. 

It’s also fortunate that these Fireflies have good sized eyes (relatively speaking) to aid in their search. Other Fireflies of similar stature may have reduced eyes, which creates a greater reliance on pheromone trails for meeting other Fireflies. Perhaps this variety of Beetle can have the best of both worlds without the need to use light as a communication method. However, it’s not all doom and darkness for this Lampyrid: the larvae are actually bioluminescent! While they resemble smaller, more narrow Trilobite Beetles (at least, in terms of the frontal plates), these young grubs can actually generate light from their rear! Moreover, their bioluminescent flashing can be performed until just after they emerge from their pupa (as demonstrated from reared specimens)! It’s somewhat disappointing that the adults lose their light function, but in this case it may be due to a dramatic change in energy intake and requirements. Larvae don’t need to worry about flight or mating and they eat snails, soft-bodied insects and worms, all protein rich and full of energy! L. atra adults however subsist on pollen and nectar. All their gathered nutrients and stores may have just been to grant the Beetle’s final molt armor, genitals, wings and the wingcase. Do not think less of them, for you can actually actually find them during the day. 

Pictures were taken on July 10, 2019 in High Park with a Samsung Galaxy S4.