A comprehensive review and call for studies on firefly larvae.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are commonly recognized by adult traits, such as a soft exoskeleton, lanterns and associated glow and flash patterns, but their larval stage is far less appreciated. However, fireflies spend most of their lives as larvae, and adults of most species rely solely on resources previously obtained. Therefore, studying the immature stages is imperative towards a comprehensive understanding of fireflies. This paper reviews and indicates key gaps in the biology of firefly larvae based on available literature.

Methodology

We reviewed the literature on firefly larvae to identify key issues and important taxonomic, geographic, and subject biases and gaps.

Results

We found 376 papers that included information on firefly larvae. Only 1

SUBMITTER: Riley WB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8459732 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature