Pterotus obscuripennis explained

Pterotus obscuripennis, commonly known as the Douglas fir glowworm,[1] is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found along the western coast of North America, from Washington to California. Adult males are smaller (9.5-12 mm), alate, capable of fight, have an elaborate antenna morphology, and are totally non-luminous. Adult females are larger (~25-35 mm), fully larviform and flightless, and cream to light golden brown in color, and luminous with photo organs on the seventh and eighth abdominal segment. Larvae are largely black in color, with cream to white coloration in the spaces between the body segments, and are luminous and predatory on slugs.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Douglas Fir Glowworm, Pterotus obscuripennis . 2022-08-30 . nathistoc.bio.uci.edu.
  2. Dean . Michael Barrett . 1979 . THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PTEROTUS OBSCURIPENNIS LECONTE (LAMPYRIDAE, COLEOPTERA) . Master of Arts . Humboldt State University .