About the key

Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are a cosmopolitan group of ~ 2,500 beetle species with rampant misclassification (Martin et al. 2019). This is in part due to morphological variation within genera and between genders. The problem arises when authors base classification on these variable morphologies. Based on this (Martin et al. 2019) recent reclassification there are ~145 genera in 10 subfamilies.

Here we present a key to the world genera of fireflies. This tool is based entirely on the males of the group, these being the most well-known and commonly encountered. Where possible the coding scheme is based on the type species. This project is necessarily a work in progress and various updates are already being planned. We welcome collaboration from all users of this tool.

If questions, comments, or suggestions arise, please email them to [email protected].

Authors

Gavin J. Martin: Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America
Marc A. Branham: Department of Entomology & Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
Luiz F. L. Da Silveira: Department of Biology, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, United States of America
Seth M. Bybee: Monte L. Bean Museum, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America

Version

May 2020