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Project Noah Nature School
Photinus pyralis
This is one of several Firefly species in San Cristobal de Las Casas and the first to begin it's nightly show. This one is close to the wetlands, about 1.5 cm long and flashes while flying low to the ground (rarely over 6 feet) between 8 and 9 at night. After 9 PM, it settles on plants or the ground and remains there until the next night. Beetle Family Lampyridae.
Garden.
The last 3 pictures of the ventral side show the light producing organ which occupy the abdominal segments 5 and 6. These two segments are enlarged for greater light distribution. This species produces a very bright greenish-yellow light. The elytra of the beetle are very thin and soft (meaning very little chiton) and the prothorax is extended forward over the head. In pictures 2, 3 and 4, the beetle is in the process of turning itself over and you can see how it uses its third hind tarsus to grip the substrate and pull itself upright. http://www.critterzone.com/animal-pictur....
Spotted on May 3, 2013
Submitted on May 13, 2013
8 Comments
Sorry bayucca for the slang, it just means that it looks just like mine.
What you mean by "dead match"?
Thank you bayucca, it is a dead match for Photinus pyralis.
Photinini?? Phontinus sp.?? Please, note the "?" ;-)...
Just a hint...
Please see the added pictures of the ventral side of this beetle showing the light producing segments.
Thank you Mayra and Hayden :))
Great quality!
Beautiful!!!