Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Cratomorphini

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Infraclass
  
Neoptera

Order
  
Coleoptera

Scientific name
  
Cratomorphini

Rank
  
Tribe

Phylum
  
Arthropoda

Superorder
  
Endopterygota

Suborder
  
Polyphaga

Higher classification
  
Lampyrinae

Similar
  
Lampyrinae, Firefly, Beetle, Insect, Elateroidea

The Cratomorphini are a disputed tribe of fireflies of the large subfamily Lampyrinae. The genera placed here often contain well-sized members of their family. The larvae of many species climb trees to feed on snails. This group contains a few "lightning bugs" (flashing fireflies) from North America, e.g. the genus Pyractomena. Further south in the American tropics, Aspisoma can be found, but this is very doubtfully placed here.

It appears that this is a paraphyletic group, assembling ancient lineages of Lampyrinae. The eventual fate of this group is not known; pending resolution of the affinities of the type genus Cratomorphus, it might be disassembled or persist without some genera which are closer to other tribes.

Selected genera

  • Aspisoma Laporte, 1833 (might belong in Lampyrini)
  • Cratomorphus
  • Micronaspis Green, 1948
  • Pyractomena LeConte, 1845
  • References

    Cratomorphini Wikipedia