Photinus indictus
Photinus indictus, or silent firefly, is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is a diurnal firefly, active during the day rather than at night, with no lanterns. It is found in eastern North America.
Description
P. indictus is a small to medium-sized beetle, with adults approximately long. The head shield, or pronotum, is pale yellow with a thick, black, rectangular central mark with red or pink on both sides. The wing covers, or elytra, are dark with wide, well-defined, light-colored margins. Unlike fireflies that produce light as adults, P. indictus has no lanterns on its abdomen. The female is often slightly larger than the male.
Etymology
Photinus is from the Greek word for shining or bright. The specific epithet, "indictus", is Latin meaning "not said" or "unspoken", referring to the fact that this species does not flash as an adult.
Life Cycle
Beetles such as P. indictus go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Photinus fireflies spend the majority of their lives as larvae, which are bioluminescent and likely live below the soil surface, eating snails, worms, and other soft-bodied invertebrates.
Behavior
Adult P. indictus fireflies are believed to attract mates through airborne pheromones.
Habitat
They can be found in meadows, pastures, and fields.
Range
P. indictus is found in eastern North America, most commonly in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada.