Luciolinae
Encyclopedia
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 Australia
n region.
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 soul
s 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.
s, the monotypic
Curtosini and the larger Luciolini. Occasionally, the Ototetrinae
are contained in this subfamily as a third tribe Ototetrini. The genus
Pristolycus, usually placed in the Lampyrinae
, appears to belong in this subfamily instead and represents a quite basal lineage.
While Curtos certainly stands apart from the other genera, its precise relationships are far less resolvable than the placement as a distinct tribe presumes; it appears to share more autapomorphies with Atyphella
and especially Pygoluciola – both were for some time included in Luciola – than with other genera, but whether this means an evolution
arily closer relationship (rendering the Curtosini invalid) remains to be tested.
Photuroluciola, usually included in Luciola, might also warrant recognition as a distinct genus.
From phylogenetic analyses of morphology
, 3 possible clades (which could be considered tribes) can be inferred:
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
into temperate
Temperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
and south to the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n region.
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
Selangor River
Selangor River is a major river in Selangor, Malaysia. It runs from Kuala Kubu Bharu in the east and empties into the Straits of Malacca at Kuala Selangor in the west....
at Kampong Kuantan, Malaysia.
Two Japanese species of Luciola
Luciola
Luciola is a genus of "flashing" fireflies , especially well-known from Japan. They are often called "Japanese fireflies", but their members range farther into Asia and reach southern Europe and Africa...
, collectively known as hotaru
Hotaru
- Places :* Hotaru, in Grojdibodu Commune, Olt County, Romania* Hotaru, in Andreiaşu de Jos Commune, Vrancea County, Romania- People :* Hotaru Akane, an AV Idol* Hotaru Hazuki, stage and pink film actress* Hotaru Honda, rhythmic gymnast...
(蛍), are highly significant in Japanese culture and folklore
Japanese folklore
The folklore of Japan is heavily influenced by both Shinto and Buddhism, the two primary religions in the country. It often involves humorous or bizarre characters and situations and also includes an assortment of supernatural beings, such as bodhisattva, kami , yōkai , yūrei ,...
. They are symbols of the hitodama
Hitodama
are believed in Japanese folklore to be the souls of the newly dead taking form as mysterious fiery apparitions. The word hitodama is a combination of the Japanese words hito, meaning "human", and tama , meaning "soul"...
(人魂 or 人玉), the soul
Soul
A soul in certain spiritual, philosophical, and psychological traditions is the incorporeal essence of a person or living thing or object. Many philosophical and spiritual systems teach that humans have souls, and others teach that all living things and even inanimate objects have souls. The...
s 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.
Systematics
This subfamily is usually divided into two tribeTribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
s, the monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
Curtosini and the larger Luciolini. Occasionally, the Ototetrinae
Ototetrinae
The Ototetrinae are a small and somewhat disputed subfamily in the firefly family . They are close to the Luciolinae in some respects, but do not glow or flash like the more advanced fireflies. Rather, they attract their partners with pheromones like many relatives of the firefly family...
are contained in this subfamily as a third tribe Ototetrini. The genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Pristolycus, usually placed in the Lampyrinae
Lampyrinae
The Lampyrinae are a large subfamily of fireflies . The exact delimitation, and the internal systematics, are a matter of debate; for long this group was used as a "wastebin taxon" to hold any fireflies with insufficiently resolved relationships...
, appears to belong in this subfamily instead and represents a quite basal lineage.
While Curtos certainly stands apart from the other genera, its precise relationships are far less resolvable than the placement as a distinct tribe presumes; it appears to share more autapomorphies with Atyphella
Atyphella
Atyphella is a genus of ‘flashing’ firefly found in the Australasian region, particularly in the eastern and northern regions of Australia...
and especially Pygoluciola – both were for some time included in Luciola – than with other genera, but whether this means an evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
arily closer relationship (rendering the Curtosini invalid) remains to be tested.
Photuroluciola, usually included in Luciola, might also warrant recognition as a distinct genus.
From phylogenetic analyses of morphology
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
, 3 possible clades (which could be considered tribes) can be inferred:
- A basal group containing Bourgeoisia, Lampyroidea, and the "typical" LuciolaLuciolaLuciola is a genus of "flashing" fireflies , especially well-known from Japan. They are often called "Japanese fireflies", but their members range farther into Asia and reach southern Europe and Africa...
which apparently includes Hotaria. Pristolycus and Curtos might belong here. - A robustly supported and distinct group containing Colophotia, Pteroptyx, Pyrophanes, and LuciolaLuciolaLuciola is a genus of "flashing" fireflies , especially well-known from Japan. They are often called "Japanese fireflies", but their members range farther into Asia and reach southern Europe and Africa...
species from AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. They might be distinguished by larvae with soft tergaTergumA tergum is the dorsal portion of an arthropod segment other than the head. The anterior edge is called the base and posterior edge is called the apex or margin. A given tergum may be divided into hardened plates or sclerites commonly referred to as tergites...
that lack paranota, but this might alternatively be a plesiomorphic trait also present in other Luciolinae. - A weakly supported group of AtyphellaAtyphellaAtyphella is a genus of ‘flashing’ firefly found in the Australasian region, particularly in the eastern and northern regions of Australia...
(formerly in Luciola), Pygoluciola and possibly Curtos, which each seems very distinct but of unclear relationships with the other genera and groups.