LAMPYRIDAE - LIGHTNING BEETLES AND FIREFLIES
Fireflies or Glow Worms as they are commonly known, are famous for thier bioluminescence - females using their glowing abdomens to attract males. Not all species are nocturnal, there exist diurnal species with no need to glow. Larvae are predacious though the diet of adults vary, some species being largely vegetarian. Light production is due to the enzyme luciferase acting on a compound called luciferin. Light production is extremely efficient with some 90% of the energy used being converted directly into light.
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Thanks to Carlos Aguilar Julio for identifying the images on this page.
Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this page were taken by Alberto Esquivel and Paul Smith and are used with their permission.
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FIGURE 1 - Lucio sp. - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Alberto Esquivel undated).
FIGURE 2 - Cladodes sp. - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith November 2008).
FIGURE 3 - Unidentified sp. - Itabó Itaipú Reserve, Departamento Alto Paraná (Paul Smith November 2008).
FIGURE 4 - Unidentified sp. - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith November 2007).
FIGURE 5 - Unidentified sp. - Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith January 2008).
FIGURE 6 - Unidentified sp. - Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith May 2008).
FIGURE 7 - Unidentified sp. - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Alberto Esquivel November 2007).
FIGURE 8 - Unidentified sp. - Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith February 2010).