The beetle family Lampyridae (fireflies) encompasses ∼100 genera worldwide with considerable diversity in life histories and signaling modes. Some lampyrid males use reproductive accessory glands to produce spermatophores, which have been shown to increase female lifetime fecundity. Sexual dimorphism in the form of neotenic and flightless females is also common in this family.A major goal of this study was to test a hypothesized link between female flight ability and male spermatophore production. We examined macroevolutionary patterns to test for correlated evolution among different levels of female neoteny (and associated loss of flight ability), male accessory gland number (and associated spermatophore production), and sexual signaling mode. Trait reconstruction on a molecular phylogeny indicated that flying females and spermatophores were ancestral traits and that female neoteny increased monotonically and led to flightlessness within multiple lineages. In addition, male spermatophore production was lost multiple times. Our evolutionary trait analysis revealed significant correlations between increased female neoteny and male accessory gland number, as well as between flightlessness and spermatophore loss. In addition, female flightlessness was positively correlated with the use of glows as female sexual signal. Transition probability analysis supported an evolutionary sequence of female flightlessness evolving first, followed by loss of male spermatophores. These results contribute to understanding how spermatophores have evolved and how this important class of seminal nuptial gifts is linked to other traits, providing new insights into sexual selection and life-history evolution.

The species of the firefly genus Vesta occurring in Taiwan are revised. Three species are recognized: Vesta scutellonigra Olivier (nomen emendatum), V. impressicollis Fairmaire, and V. rufiventris (Motschulsky). Vesta chevrolatii var. scutello nigro Olivier is automatically emended to scutellonigra under ICZN rules. Okada described as a distinct species V. scutellonigra, employing the same name and material as Olivier, thereby automatically rendering his taxon a junior synonym (n. syn.). The name V. scutellonigro, simultaneously employed by Okada, is considered an incorrect subsequent spelling and therefore unavailable. Vesta formosana Pic (n. syn.) is a new junior synonym of V. scutellonigra. The spelling chevrolati, employed by Gemminger and Harold, is determined to be an incorrect subsequent spelling of chevrolatii and thus unavailable. Lectotypes are newly designated for V. scutellonigra Olivier, V. impressicollis Fairmaire, and V. formosana Pic. A key to the species of Taiwan is provided. Vesta flaviventris (Fairmaire) (n. comb.) from China is transferred from Lucernuta.

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The mysterious world of biofluorescence in terrestrial ecosystems is mesmerizing. Though not as ubiquitous as in the ocean, it is not a rare phenomenon on land. Fluorescence occurs in all major phyla of terrestrial animals (Platyhelminthes, Mollusca, Annelida, Nematoda, Onychophora, Arthropoda, and Chordata) and their subgroups, with diverse fluorophores and performance. In this chapter, we make a general review on the fluorescence in terrestrial animals first, including their systematic distribution, research history, fluorophores, and proposed functions for each group among several other aspects. A systematic observation on the fluorescence of fireflies is reported for the first time. The co-occurrence of biofluorescence and bioluminescence in luminescent land snails, earthworms, potworms, millipedes, and fireflies is a fascinating issue. Though the biochemical mechanism of photogenesis is not fully understood in many terrestrial animals except fireflies, it appears that biofluorescence and bioluminescence do not have clear interaction during the light production process. However, fluorophores and luminophores are usually biochemically related and are different from the photogenic mechanism of jellyfish and several marine creatures whose ultimate light emission is made through energy transfer from bioluminescence to biofluorescence by green fluorescent protein (GFP) or its variants. The role of fluorescence is disputative. In general, nocturnal animals or animals having cryptic living styles, e.g., in earth or under shelters like tree bark or rocks, tend to exhibit UV fluorescence more frequently than animals that are diurnal or inhabit open environments. This pattern is evident in fireflies wherein only nocturnal and luminescent species exhibit noticeable UV fluorescence (likely from luciferin), which is dim or absent in diurnal or crepuscular fireflies. It is unlikely that occasionally induced UV fluorescence in natural environments can play a significant role in intra-or interspecific communication in fireflies or other nocturnal animals.

Abscondita, a new genus of fireflies from Southeast Asia, is described from males and females of Abs. anceyi (Olivier 1883), Abs. cerata (Olivier 1911), Abs. chinensis (L. 1767), Abs. perplexa (Walker 1858), Abs. promelaena (Walker 1858) and Abs. terminalis (Olivier 1883), all transferred from Luciola Laporte. Both L. dubia Olivier 1903 and L. dejeani Gemminger 1870 are synonymised with Luciola perplexa (Walker), and L. aegrota Olivier 1891 and L. melaspis Bourgeois 1909 with L. promelaena Walker. Females are characterised by their bursa plates. Larvae are associated and described for BALLANTYNE ET AL. 2 • Zootaxa 3721 (1) © 2013 Magnolia Press Abs. anceyi (Olivier), Abs. chinensis (L.) and Abs. terminalis (Olivier). Taxonomic issues regarding the identification of species with very similar colouration of pale dorsum and black tipped elytra are addressed and in some cases resolved. A neotype for Luciola chinensis (L.) is erected and Luciola praeusta (Kiesenwetter 1874) is synonymised with L. chinensis (L.). Descriptions of life histories, biology and flashing patterns of populations of Abs. chinensis and Abs. terminalis from central China are included. Abs. terminalis is the first Asian firefly known to possess multiple flash trains where males are documented to display with repeating flash trains.