Phausis

__NOTOC__Taxobox
name = "Phausis"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
infraclassis = Neoptera
superordo = Endopterygota
ordo = Coleoptera
subordo = Polyphaga
infraordo = Elateriformia
superfamilia = Elateroidea
familia = Lampyridae
subfamilia = Lampyrinae
tribus = Photinini (disputed)
genus = "Phausis"
genus_authority = LeConte, 1851
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =Several, but see text

"Phausis" is a genus of firefly beetles (family Lampyridae). These beetles are for the most part unimpressive in their appearance and behaviour, and thus have not drawn much study, and little is known about many of the species. Species in this genus are at least known from Europe and North America. More than seven species occur in North America, ranging throughout much of the continent.

The genera "Phausis" and "Lamprohiza" are very similar and in need of revision; the delimitations between the two are not clear. Alternatively, "Phausis" may be paraphyletic and/or at least in part synonymous with "Lamprohiza". The genus is traditionally placed in the tribe Photinini of the Lampyrinae, but at least the Blue Ghost Firefly ("P. reticulata") does not seem to be particularly close to this group (or "Lamprohiza" for that matter) and might not even belong in the subfamily Lampyrinae.Stanger-Hall "et al." (2007)]

Description

"Phausis" males are small compared to many fireflies, ranging from about 3 to 8.5 mm (0.1 - 0.3 inches). Most are brown to brown-black in colour and have transparent "window" spots in the front half of the pronotum. A key characteristic distinguishing adult male "Phausis" from most other firefly genera is the presence of a minute glassy bead at the tip of each antenna. Males have huge eyes.

Female "Phausis", where known, are larviform. For most North American species the females have not been discovered, possibly because they often live in burrows in the soil and are therefore not easily collected.

Most males are non-luminescent, while female "Phausis" (those that are known) do emit bioluminescence in the form of a continuous glow. Males of the species "Phausis reticulata" also emit a faint, constant glow.

elected species

* "Phausis californica" Fender, 1966
* "Phausis dorothae" Fender, 1961
* "Phausis inaccensa" LeConte, 1878
* "Phausis luminosa" Fender, 1966
* "Phausis marina" Fender, 1966
* "Phausis nigra" Hopping, 1937
* "Phausis reticulata" – Blue Ghost Firefly
* "Phausis rhombica" Fender, 1961
* "Phausis riversi" LeConte, 1885
* "Phausis skelleyi" Fender, 1961
* "Phausis splendidula" (Linnaeus, 1767)

Footnotes

References

* (2007): Phylogeny of North American fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae): Implications for the evolution of light signals. "Mol. Phylogenet. Evol." 45(1): 33-49. doi|10.1016/j.ympev.2007.05.013 (HTML abstract)