Transcriptional Comparison of the photogenic and non-photogenic tissues of Phrixothrix hirtus (Coleoptera: Phengodidae) and non-luminescent Chauliognathus flavipes(Coleoptera: Cantharidae) give insights on the origin of lanterns in railroadworms

Bioluminescence in beetles is found in the Elateroidea superfamily, which includes Elateridae, Lampyridae, Rhagophthalmidae, and Phengodidae families. Despite sharing the same biochemical system, it is unclear whether lanterns and bioluminescent system share a common origin or not. To better understand the molecular differentiation of photogenic from non-photogenic tissues, we compared the transcriptional profiles of the lateral lanterns and fat body in Phrixothrix hirtus railroadworm (Phengodidae) and comparatively the body of the non-luminescent Chauliognathus flavipes(Cantharidae).