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Structure, behavior, and the life cycle of an aquatic firefly, Luciola substriata, in China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

Fu Xinhua ,
Ohba Nobuyoshi ,
Fredric V. Vencl  and
Lei Chaoliang
Fu Xinhua*
Affiliation:
Institute of Insect Resources, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Ohba Nobuyoshi
Affiliation:
Yokosuka City Museum, Yokosuka 238, Japan
Fredric V. Vencl
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-5245, United States of America, and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancón, Balboa, Panama
Lei Chaoliang*
Affiliation:
Institute of Insect Resources, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
*
1E-mail: fuxinhua2001@yahoo.com.
2Corresponding author (e-mail: ioir@mail.hzau.edu.cn).
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Abstract

The aquatic firefly Luciola substriata Gorham, 1880 (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) was first discovered in mainland China in 2000. The larvae of L. substriata inhabit ponds and lakes rich in aquatic vegetation. We recorded L. substriata feeding on two species of aquatic snails, Lymnaea stagnalis (L., 1758) (Basommatophora: Lymnaeidae) and Gyraulus convexiusculus (Hutton, 1849) (Basommatophora: Planorbidae). Three predators of fireflies were also recorded for the first time: the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) (Decapoda: Cambaridae), the crab Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne-Edwards, 1853 (Decapoda: Varunidae), and the grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus (Valenciennes in Cuvier et Valenciennes, 1844) (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae). Egg incubation averaged 11 days at an ambient temperature of 20–25 °C. The prepupal stage of L. substriata lasted 6.2 days, and the pupal stage lasted 4.4 days. The imaginal period lasted from May to September. Courtship light-flashing activity peaked 1 h after sunset. The light spectrum of responsiveness of L. substriata was 425–603 nm, with a peak responsive emission at 504 nm. In addition, we have described and illustrated the morphology of L. substriata.

Résumé

La luciole aquatique Luciola substriata Gorham, 1880 (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) a été trouvée pour la première fois en Chine continentale en 2000. Les larves de L. substriata colonisent les étangs et les lacs riches en végétation. Nous avons observé L. substriata se nourrir de deux espèces de gastéropodes aquatiques, Lymnaea stagnalis (L., 1758) (Basommatophora: Lymnaeidae) et Gyraulus convexiusculus (Hutton, 1849) (Basommatophora: Planorbidae). Trois prédateurs des lucioles sont signalés pour la première fois, l'écrevisse rouge de Louisiane, Procamburus clarkii (Girard, 1852) (Decapoda: Cambaridae), le crabe Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne-Edwards, 1853 (Decapoda: Varunidae) et la carpe herbivore, Ctenopharyngodon idellus (Valenciennes in Cuvier et Valenciennes, 1844) (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae). L'incubation des oeufs dure en moyenne 11 jours à une température ambiante de 20–25 °C. Le stade prénymphal de L. substriata dure 6,2 jours et le stade nymphal 4,4 jours. La période adulte s'étend de mai à septembre. Le clignotement lumineux de cour atteint son maximum 1 h après le coucher du soleil. La réactivité au spectre lumineux de L. substriata va de 425 à 603 nm, avec une émission réactive maximale à 504 nm. Nous avons aussi décrit et illustré la morphologie de L. substriata.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 137 , Issue 1 , February 2005 , pp. 83 - 90
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2005

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