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For other uses, see Firefly (disambiguation).
Firefly
Unidentified species from India, dorsal (left) and ventral aspect
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Scientific classification
| Kingdom: |
Animalia
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| Phylum: |
Arthropoda
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| Class: |
Insecta
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| Order: |
Coleoptera
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| Suborder: |
Polyphaga
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| Infraorder: |
Elateriformia
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| Superfamily: |
Elateroidea
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| Family: |
Lampyridae
Latreille, 1817 |
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Subfamilies
Cyphonocerinae
Lampyrinae
Luciolinae
Ototetrinae (disputed)
Photurinae
and see below
Genera incertae sedis:
Oculogryphus
Pterotus LeConte, 1859
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Lampyridae is a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, and commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous crepuscular use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies are capable of producing a "cold light", containing no ultraviolet or infrared rays. This chemically-produced light, emitted from the lower abdomen, may be yellow, green, or pale red in color, and has a wavelength from 510 to 670 nanometers. |
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