Fireflies (Lampyridae Rafinesque) are a diverse family of beetles which exhibit an array of morphologies including varying antennal and photic organ features. Due in part to their morphological diversity, the classification within the Lampyridae has long been in flux. Here we use an anchored hybrid enrichment approach to reconstruct the most extensive molecular phylogeny of Lampyridae to date (436 loci and 98 taxa) and use this phylogeny to evaluate the higher-level classification of the group. None of the currently recognized subfamilies were recovered as monophyletic with high support. We propose several classification changes supported by both phylogenetic and morphological evidence: 1) Pollaclasis Newman, Vestini McDermott (incl. Vesta Laporte, Dodacles Olivier, Dryptelytra Laporte, and Ledocas Olivier), Photoctus McDermott, and Araucariocladus Silveira & Mermudes are transferred to Lampyridae incertae sedis, 2) Psilocladinae Mcdermott, 1964status novum is reestablished for the genus Psilocladus Blanchard, 3) Lamprohizini Kazantsev, 2010 is elevated to Lamprohizinae Kazantsev, 2010status novum and Phausis LeConte is transferred to Lamprohizinae, 4) Memoan Silveira and Mermudes is transferred to Amydetinae Olivier, and 5) Scissicauda McDermott is transferred to Lampyrinae Rafinesque.

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A systematic review of Amydetes Illiger, 1807, based on examination of the type-material. We fix A. fastigiata Illiger, 1807 as the type-species of the genus; redescribe the genus and six out of eight species; describe 13 new species; and provide illustrations and a key to species. We place A. vigorsi Westwood, 1830 syn. n. and A. gorhami Kuntzen, 1912 syn. n. in synonymy with A. fastigiata; A. suturalis Pic, 1925 syn. n. and A. brasiliensis Pic, 1925 in synonymy with A. apicalis; and A. flavicollis Olivier, 1888 syn. n. in synonymy with A. lucioloides Olivier, 1888. We report the first record of Amydetes from Venezuela and Argentina, and establish more precise distributions of the studied species. We describe the circadian period of A. apicalis (diurnal), A. fastigiata and Amydetes bellorum sp. nov. (nocturnal) and discuss the circadian diversity of the genus. Fronto-clypeus, antenna, labrum, maxillary palpomere, prothorax, mesosternum, lanterns, abdominal segment VIII and terminalia were structures that provided important characters for delimitation and diagnosis of the species.

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