Photinini
The Photinini are a large tribe of fireflies in the subfamily Lampyrinae. Photinus pyralis is famous in biotechnology for its luciferase gene. This is sometimes employed as a marker gene; genetically modified organisms which contain it start to glow like the firefly when brought in contact with a luciferin-containing medium. Firefly luciferases differ slightly between taxa, resulting in differently colored light and other properties, and in most cases where "firefly luciferase" is used in some application or study, it is the specific luciferase of P. pyralis.
Systematics
The group has recently been examined using molecular phylogenetics, using fairly comprehensive sampling.
Genera
Ankonophallus Zaragoza-Caballero & Navarrete-Heredia, 2014Aorphallus Zaragoza-Caballero & Gutierrez-Carranza, 2018Callopisma Motschulsky, 1853Calotrechelum Pic, 1930Dadophora Olivier, 1907Dilychnia Motschulsky, 1853Ellychnia LeConte, 1851Erythrolychnia Motschulsky, 1853Haplocauda Silveira, Lima, and McHugh, 2022Heterophotinus Olivier, 1894Jamphotus Barber, 1941Lucidina Gorham, 1883Lucidota Laporte, 1833Lucidotopsis McDermott, 1960Luciuranus Silveira, Khattar & Mermudes, 2016Macrolampis Motschulsky, 1853Microdiphot Barber, 1941Mimophotinus Pic, 1935Oliviereus Pic, 1930Phosphaenopterus Schaufuss, 1870Phosphaenus Fourcroy, 1785Photinoides McDermott, 1963Photinus Laporte, 1833 - rover fireflies Platylampis Motschulsky, 1853Pseudolychnuris Motschulsky, 1853Pyropyga Motschulsky, 1852Pyropygodes Zaragoza-Caballero, 2000Robopus Motschulsky, 1853Rufolychnia Kazantsev, 2006Uanauna Campello-Gonçalves, Souto, Mermudes & Silviera, 2019Ybytyramoan Silveira & Mermudes, 2014