Phausis californica

Fender, 1966

Phausis californica is a firefly in the Lampyridae , first described by Fender in 1966. It belongs to the Phausis, which includes other 'shadow ghost' fireflies characterized by neotenic, flightless females that glow and winged but lantern-less males. The species is native to California. Very little specific biological information has been published for this particular species compared to its Phausis inaccensa.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Phausis californica: //ˈfaʊ.sɪs ˌkæl.əˈfɔːr.nɪ.kə//

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Identification

No specific identification guidance exists for P. californica. The Phausis is distinguished from other firefly genera by its extreme : females are (retaining larval body form into adulthood), wingless, and possess a glowing lantern, while males are winged, capable of , and lack lanterns entirely. -level identification within Phausis requires examination of morphological details by a .

Distribution

California, United States. GBIF records indicate presence in North America with specific locality in California implied by the epithet and authorship.

Similar Taxa

Phausis inaccensaA congeneric 'shadow ghost' firefly with the same extreme (wingless glowing females, winged lantern-less males). P. inaccensa has been studied in Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Minnesota, and differs in geographic distribution.
Other Lampyridae generaMost firefly have winged, lantern-bearing males and winged females, or in some cases both sexes are wingless but neither shows the combination of flightless glowing females with flighted lantern-less males seen in Phausis.

More Details

Taxonomic note

Phausis californica was described by Kenneth Fender in 1966. The Phausis currently contains multiple , but P. inaccensa is the most thoroughly documented due to research by Lynn Faust and Timothy Forrest. Biological details for P. californica specifically have not been located in the available literature.

Data gaps

No observations are recorded in iNaturalist for this . Published research on its , , or appears to be absent from the sources reviewed. Most information about 'shadow ghost' fireflies in scientific literature refers to P. inaccensa rather than P. californica.