Higher-level phylogeny and reclassification of Lampyridae (Coleoptera: Elateroidea)

Fireflies (Lampyridae) are a diverse family of beetles which exhibit an array of morphologies including varying antennal and photic organ morphologies. Due in part to their morphological diversity, the classification within the Lampyridae has long been in flux. Here we use an anchored hybrid enrichment approach to reconstruct the most extensive molecular phylogeny of Lampyridae to date (436 loci and 98 taxa) and to evaluate firefly higher-level classification. We propose several classification changes supported by morphological evidence: (1) Lamprigera, Vestini (incl. Vesta, Dodacles, Dryptelytra, and Ledocas), Photoctus, and Araucariocladus are transferred to Lampyridae incertae sedis, (2) Phausinae subfamilia nova is erected for Phausis and Lamprohiza, (3) Psilocladinae status nova is reestablished for the genus Psilocladus, (4) Pollaclasis is transferred to the Cyphonocerinae, (5) Memoan is transferred to Amydetinae, and (6) Scissicauda is transferred to Lampyrinae.