Notes on the life history and mating behavior of Ellychnia corrusca (Coloeptera : Lampyridae)

Population dynamics and reproductive activity were examined in a Massachuse tts population of the common diurnal firefly, Ellychnia corrusca. Although closely related to nocturnal beetles in the genus Photinus, Ellychnia lack adult light organs. A mark-recapture study of overwintering adults demonstr ated low winter mortality and supported the hypothesis that adults overwint er for a single year. By dissecting males and females sampled throughout la te winter and spring, it was found that adults become reproductively active in early March, when male seminal vesicles first contained sperm and femal e ovaries first contained mature oocytes. Both sexes mated multiply during the approximately six-week mating season (early April through mid-May), and copulations lasted up to 28 h. Adults collected in fall had higher abdomin al fat body volumes than those collected in spring, and females contained m ore fat body than males. The life history and mating behavior off. corrusca are discussed in comparison to Photinus fireflies.