About Lucidota atra (G.Olivier, 1790)
The adult Lucidota atra firefly has a body length between 9 and 12 mm (0.35 to 0.47 inches). This species has conspicuous segmented black antennae that are serrate in shape, and males have larger antennae than females. The pronotum extends out over the head; it is most often red and yellow with a central black stripe or patch, though some individuals have an entirely dark pronotum. The compound eyes of Lucidota atra are smaller than the compound eyes of nocturnal firefly species such as Photinus pyralis. Its elytra are black or brown-black and have a granulated texture. In adult Lucidota atra, the light organ is greatly reduced and hard to see. This species is distributed across eastern North America, with its range extending west as far as Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas, and south to Mexico. Lucidota atra occurs primarily in open forests or shady open areas.
