Pyrophorus

Pyrophorus is a genus of polyphagous beetles of the family Elateridae. They are bioluminescent (they produce cryoluminescent type light, since they emit almost no extra heat to produce light) like fireflies, although they are not related to them.

Common names

They are known as tucu-tucus, cocuyos (Cuba, Dominican Republic and Argentina), cucuyos, cocuys, cucullos, firefly and tucos (Argentina), curucusí (Bolivia), tuquito, cucubanos, cucayos, taca-taca, achon, carbuncos, caminito, tagüinches or alúas, while in some parts of northern Mexico they are also known as copechis or Santa Martha and güimba in the Pacific coast of Nariño in Colombia. In some regions they are called fireflies or light bugs, although they should not be confused with true fireflies (Lampyridae).

Etymology

The name of the genus comes from the Greek pyro, fire and phorus, carrier. The common name, "tucu", according to some etymologists would come from Quechua with the meaning of "firefly" and also owl and spirit, ^{[citation required]} while in Cacán and other languages of the same family it means bright or luminous; For example, the old proper name? Tukma would perhaps be the luminous, and Tucumanao bright or tucu (luminous) place.

Features

They are characterized by having photogenic, bioluminous or light-generating organs on the back, over the thoracic area called the pronotum; This light is usually greenish. They also have an even brighter third organ in the dorsal part of the abdomen that is only visible when flying.

The natives make a kind of lantern by placing several of these insects in small cages.

Their eggs emit an incandescent greenish light to prevent attacks by predators, just like humans did in prehistory with the discovery of fire.

Natural history

Their eggs and larvae are also luminous. Growth is very slow and possibly takes several years. The length of the individuals of most species is around three centimeters and the color is almost always black or brown. Adults feed on pollen and small insects such as aphids. The larvae eat plant matter and other insects, such as the larvae of other beetles^{[citation needed]}.

Ecosystem

They live mainly in the tropical forests of America, being seen on the branches of trees and sometimes on their bark. They camouflage themselves with leaves to protect themselves from predators that live on the lookout for them.

They usually migrate depending on weather conditions and move to less humid areas, with a longer life expectancy for their larvae.

List of species