Morphology and life cycle of a new species of Psilocladus Blanchard, 1846 (Coleoptera, Lampyridae, Psilocladinae), the first known bromeliad-inhabiting firefly

Abstract

Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are soft-bodied beetles usually associated with mesic and hydric habitats. As such, terrestrial firefly larvae are commonly found in marshy environments and stream banks, while aquatic larvae might dwell in ponds, streams, mangroves, and even brackish water. Larval biology is especially important in fireflies, as the majority of species are extremely semelparous – that is, adults rely on resources gathered during larval stages. Despite their crucial relevance in firefly biology, larvae of only near 1% firefly species have been studied, and the majority of species remain known only from adult stages. That is especially true in the Neotropical region, where they are most diverse. Here, we describe Psilocladus costae sp. nov. after the study of adults and immature stages, the latter reported for the first time for the monotypic subfamily Psilocladinae McDermott, 1964. Interestingly, adults were first obtained by rearing the larvae, the former usually fly fairly high (ca. 10 m) and are therefore seldom collected at ground level by conventional methods (e.g., active search, Malaise traps). The new species is found in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, inhabiting canopy bromeliads, an unprecedented habit for fireflies.