Cyphonocerinae

Cyphonocerinae
Cyphonocerinae
Cyphonocerus ruficollis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Infraclass: Neoptera
Superorder: Endopterygota
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Elateriformia
Superfamily: Elateroidea
Family: Lampyridae
Subfamily: Cyphonocerinae
Crowson, 1972
Genera

2, but see text

The Cyphonocerinae are a subfamily of fireflies (Lampyridae) with only a few handful of species in (presumably) 2 genera found in North America and Eurasia[1]. Its taxonomic history is confusing; it has at various times been included in the now-abolished Amydetinae or the Lampyrinae (which made these paraphyletic).

Alternatively Psilocladius was included herein, in which case it was united with and became a junior synonym of the Psilocladinae, but this appears to be incorrect and the latter group is nowadays usually included in the Lampyrinae. Stenocladius on the other hand, usually placed in the Ototetrinae, might actually belong to the present subfamily, but more study of this peculiar genus is necessary[1].

Related to the Luciolinae and Ototetrinae[1], the Cyphonocerinae appear to be one of the most primitive living lineages of fireflies. In fact, this group is so plesiomorphic that Cyphonocerus was not recognized as a firefly and placed in the Drilidae when it was first described. Cyphonocerus can display weak light signals, while Pollaclasis (and Stenocladius) have only the plesiomorphic pheromone signals like their relatives[1].

The genera placed in the Cyphonocerinae are:

  • Cyphonocerus
  • Pollaclasis Newman, 1838

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d Stanger-Hall et al. (2007)

References


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