Wing coverings on the Black Firefly are completely black. Many other species have yellow edges, but this one only has color on its pronotum, the area by its head. The yellow pronotum has a black mark in the middle of it that is faintly surrounded by red or pink. It is round by the head and curves down to pointed sides by the wings. Unlike other fireflies, this species does not light up at night and so it remains hidden in the darkness. Instead of using pulses of bioluminescence to attract females, males use chemical pheromones. The insect has the capability to illuminate, but it does not do so after it leaves the pupal case to become a winged adult.
Because Black Fireflies are well concealed at night, they become difficult to find after sunset. They hang out in all the same kinds of habitats that other fireflies enjoy like forest, woodlands, the open areas around trees, and in parks, but capturing one could prove a daunting task.©BeetleIdentification.org
The Black Firefly is typically 0.2 inches to 0.5 inches (7mm to 13mm) in size and has the following descriptors / identifiers: black; orange; yellow; winged; small; red.
Territorial Area Map (Visual Reference Guide)
The map below showcases (in blue) the states and territories of North America where the Black Firefly may be found (but is not limited to). This sort of data can be useful in seeing concentrations of a particular species over the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species' given lifespan. Some species are naturally confined by environment, weather, mating habits, food resources and the like while others see widespread expansion across most, or all, of North America.
