NOTES and LETTERS AN ICONIC OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA, THE IS LIGHTING UP THE PRAIRIE SKY. JEFF BOONE City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, SK, S7L 7K6 email: [email protected] Based on a number of inquiries, are similar in appearance more people were observing to their close relatives the soldier, fireflies in 2013. There were a half net-winged and click .2 dozen requests regarding fireflies The signature feature is their and attention from local media. It is flash, which is produced through unclear why fireflies were suddenly oxidation of a group of proteins seen with such frequency, but it called lucerifases.3 This reaction may be related to the rising water takes place in their abdomen and table in Saskatchewan creating produces the characteristic glow more habitat for fireflies. Several or bioluminescence. 2,3 In many of the species in Saskatchewan species the larvae, pupae and prefer palustrine environments adults are bioluminescent. In including wet meadows, marshes, larvae and pupae, bioluminescence creeks and sloughs.1 is aposematic,4 signalling to predators the presence of Fireflies are a family of distasteful compounds. There beetles, called the Lampyridae. are several colours of flashes in There are over 2000 species Saskatchewan.1 It is common to worldwide including nine see amber flashes produced by species in Saskatchewan (Royal Pyractomena or green or yellow Saskatchewan Museum records). flashes produced by . Five of the nine species have been found in aspen parkland,1 Adults in many species use the ecoregion surrounding signalling to attract mates. Typically Saskatoon, although these records males will produce flashes and are likely biased by the fact that then wait for a female to respond, more collecting has occurred creating a chorus of flashes. In an in this region (Larson personal unusual twist on this behaviour, communication). According to some species of firefly mimic the records at the Royal Saskatchewan flashing pattern of another species Museum one species of firefly, the in order to lure an unsuspecting winter firefly ( corrusca), male.5 They then capture and eat has been found as far north as them. This occurs in the genus Lake Athabasca. 71 (3) September 2013 153 Figure 1. A Pennsylvania firefly (Photuris pennslyvanica) resting on a lily petal. © Stephen Luk

154 Blue Jay Photuris, nicknamed the femme 1. Hooper RR, Larson DJ. Checklist fatale fireflies. In Saskatchewan of Beetles (Coleoptera: Insecta) of we have one femme fatale species Saskatchewan. that has been found in the eastern aspen parkland (Figure 1). 2. Luk SPL, Marshall SA, Branham MA (2011) The fireflies on Ontario There are several species of (Coleoptera Lampyridae). Journal firefly where the adults are not of Identification No. 16. bioluminescent and consequently are seen less identified.2 3. Fraga H (2008) Firefly Saskatchewan is home to four luminescence: A historical of these non-luminous species perspective and recent including the winter firefly, so developments. Photochemical & named because of its activity in Photobiological Sciences 7:146- the early spring.2 158.

Much is still unknown about the 4. de Cock R, Matthysen E biology of many species of firefly. (1999) Aposematism and However some are known to feed Bioluminescence: Experimental 6 on soft bodied invertebrates. evidence from Glow-worm Larvae One species in Saskatchewan, (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). Pyractomena dispersa, is possibly Evolutionary Ecology 13:619-639. a specialist predator of snails similar to close relatives Pyractomena 5. Lloyd JE (1965) Aggressive 6 borealis. It is the most frequently mimicry in Photuris: firefly femmes collected species in the Royal fatales. Science 149:653-654. Saskatchewan collection and has been collected from May to August 6. Hummel JD (2004) Digital (Royal Saskatchewan Museum Collection, E.H. Strickland records). Entomological Museum, University of Alberta. http://entomology. Are you interested in spotting museums.ualberta.ca/searching_ fireflies or adding them to your species_details.php?s=5431 collection? They are often easy to observe in riparian areas next to streams, rivers, or lakes lighting up the night sky. In the daytime they often go unnoticed. Try sweep netting in grassy areas. You may catch lightning in a bottle.

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