The Photinini are a large tribe of fireflies in the subfamily Lampyrinae. Photinus pyralis is famous in biotechnology for its luciferase gene. This is sometimes employed as a marker gene; genetically modified organisms which contain it start to glow like the firefly when brought in contact with a luciferin-containing medium. Firefly luciferases differ slightly between taxa, resulting in differently colored light and other properties, and in most cases where "firefly luciferase" is used in some application or study, it is the specific luciferase of P. pyralis.
Systematics The group has recently been examined using molecular phylogenetics, using fairly comprehensive sampling.
Genera
Ankonophallus Zaragoza-Caballero & Navarrete-Heredia, 2014 Aorphallus Zaragoza-Caballero & Gutierrez-Carranza, 2018 Callopisma Motschulsky, 1853 Calotrechelum Pic, 1930 Dadophora Olivier, 1907 Dilychnia Motschulsky, 1853 Ellychnia LeConte, 1851 Erythrolychnia Motschulsky, 1853 Haplocauda Silveira, Lima, and McHugh, 2022 Heterophotinus Olivier, 1894 Jamphotus Barber, 1941 Lucidina Gorham, 1883 Lucidota Laporte, 1833 Lucidotopsis McDermott, 1960 Luciuranus Silveira, Khattar & Mermudes, 2016 Macrolampis Motschulsky, 1853 Microdiphot Barber, 1941 Mimophotinus Pic, 1935 Oliviereus Pic, 1930 Phosphaenopterus Schaufuss, 1870 Phosphaenus Fourcroy, 1785 Photinoides McDermott, 1963 Photinus Laporte, 1833 – rover fireflies (possibly paraphyletic) Platylampis Motschulsky, 1853 Pseudolychnuris Motschulsky, 1853 Pyropyga Motschulsky, 1852 Pyropygodes Zaragoza-Caballero, 2000 Robopus Motschulsky, 1853 Rufolychnia Kazantsev, 2006 Uanauna Campello-Gonçalves, Souto, Mermudes & Silviera, 2019 Ybytyramoan Silveira & Mermudes, 2014
References