The Luciolinae are among the largest subfamilies of fireflies (Lampyridae). They seem to be all "flashing" (as opposed to "continuous-glow") fireflies. They are a diverse lineage, spreading throughout the warm parts of Eurasia into temperate Europe and East Asia and south to the Australian region.[1]
Several tropical species, notably of the genus Pteroptyx, are of local economic importance. Their displays will self-synchronize until the entire local firefly population flashes in the same rhythm, creating a stunning spectacle that is popular with tourists. The most well-known location to witness these displays is on the Selangor River at Kampong Kuantan, Malaysia.
Two Japanese species of Luciola, collectively known as hotaru (蛍), are highly significant in Japanese culture and folklore. They are symbols of the hitodama (人魂 or 人玉), the souls of the newly dead. See also the explanations at the article on the movie Hotaru no Haka ("Grave of the Fireflies") for a discussion of the cultural significance of the hotaru.
^Stanger-Hall, Kathrin F.; Lloyd, James E. & Hillis, David M. (2007): Phylogeny of North American fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae): Implications for the evolution of light signals. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 45(1): 33-49. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2007.05.013 PMID 17644427 (HTML abstract)
The Luciolinae are among the largest subfamilies of fireflies (Lampyridae). They seem to be all "flashing" (as opposed to "continuous-glow") fireflies...
million years ago) Burmese amber of Myanmar, which belongs to the subfamily Luciolinae. The light producing organ is clearly present. The ancestral glow colour...
Olivier in Selangor, Malaysia (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae), with notes of Luciolinae larvae. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 50(1): 101–109. PDF...
small subfamily in the firefly family (Lampyridae). They are close to the Luciolinae in some respects, but do not glow or flash. Rather, they attract their...
studies support their separation. The genus is placed in the subfamily Luciolinae, in which both adult males and females are winged. Members of the genus...
Madagascan Photuroluciola Pic, and description of seven new genera from the Luciolinae (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)". Zootaxa: 1–188. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1997.1...
Pteroptyx is a genus of fireflies in the subfamily Luciolinae found in Southeast Asia. It has long been noted for the ability to perform synchronous flashing...
found in Sri Lanka. "Regional Diversity of Fireflies of the subfamily Luciolinae (Coleoptera:Lampyridae) in Sri Lanka". Lampyrid 2012. 2:138-141. Retrieved...
margin is dentate. "Regional Diversity of Fireflies of the subfamily Luciolinae (Coleoptera:Lampyridae) in Sri Lanka". Lampyrid 2012. 2:138-141. Retrieved...
antennal segments. "Regional Diversity of Fireflies of the subfamily Luciolinae (Coleoptera:Lampyridae) in Sri Lanka". Lampyrid 2012. 2:138-141. Retrieved...
(8.50%), T (36.31%). "Regional Diversity of Fireflies of the subfamily Luciolinae (Coleoptera:Lampyridae) in Sri Lanka". Lampyrid 2012. 2:138-141. Retrieved...
Ballantyne L, Lambkin CL, Boontop Y, Jusoh WF. Revisional studies on the Luciolinae fireflies of Asia (Coleoptera: Lampyridae): 1. The genus Pyrophanes Olivier...
in 2016, it is one of seven species in the genus Sclerotia within the Luciolinae subfamily. The adult is less than a centimeter in length with pale-brown...
endemic to Sri Lanka. "Regional Diversity of Fireflies of the subfamily Luciolinae (Coleoptera:Lampyridae) in Sri Lanka". Lampyrid 2012. 2:138-141. Retrieved...
obliquely truncate. "Regional Diversity of Fireflies of the subfamily Luciolinae (Coleoptera:Lampyridae) in Sri Lanka". Lampyrid 2012. 2:138-141. Retrieved...
L. (2012). "The external larval morphology of aquatic and terrestrial Luciolinae fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)". Zootaxa. 3405 (3405): 1–34. doi:10...
Madagascan Photuroluciola Pic, and description of seven new genera from the Luciolinae (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). Zootaxa 1997: 1–188 PDF abstract v t e...
1.5 to 1.9 mm long. "Regional Diversity of Fireflies of the subfamily Luciolinae (Coleoptera:Lampyridae) in Sri Lanka". Lampyrid 2012. 2:138-141. Retrieved...
are long and yellow. "Regional Diversity of Fireflies of the subfamily Luciolinae (Coleoptera:Lampyridae) in Sri Lanka". Lampyrid 2012. 2:138-141. Retrieved...
of the head. This is almost unique among the genera of the subfamily Luciolinae with Bourgeoisia being the only other to feature this. The adult Atyphella...
Kazantsev, S. (2015). "Protoluciola albertalleni gen. n., sp. n., a new Luciolinae firefly (Insecta: Coleoptera: Lampyridae) from Burmite amber". Russian...
V. Kazantsev (2015). "Protoluciola albertalleni gen.n., sp.n., a new Luciolinae firefly (Insecta: Coleoptera: Lampyridae) from Burmite amber". Russian...
doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2012.01128.x. Sergey V. Kazantsev (2012). "A new Luciolinae firefly (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) from the Baltic Amber" (PDF). Russian...
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