Species Details

Pyractomena dispersa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »

SeasonalitySpecimens present in the Strickland Museum were collected in mid June. IdentificationPyractomena dispersa (8-12.5mm long) at a glance closely resembles P. borealis, and like the larger species can be distinguished from all other Alberta lampyrids by the presence of light organs on the ventral abdomen of both the males and females. Female light organs are restricted to the edges of these abdominal segments. It can be distinguished from P. borealis by the secondary pubescence on the dorsal surface of the elytra. While longer primary pubescence sparsely covers the entire elytra of P. dispersa, the very small hairs comprising the secondary pubescence cover only the apical quarter of each elytron, making more of the elytra appear glabrous than in P. borealis. The pubescence may extend a little further along the elytral suture.

Scientific Name Pyractomena dispersa Habitat No information available. Seasonality Specimens present in the Strickland Museum were collected in mid June. Identification
Pyractomena dispersa (8-12.5mm long) at a glance closely resembles P. borealis, and like the larger species can be distinguished from all other Alberta lampyrids by the presence of light organs on the ventral abdomen…
Pyractomena dispersa (8-12.5mm long) at a glance closely resembles P. borealis, and like the larger species can be distinguished from all other Alberta lampyrids by the presence of light organs on the ventral abdomen of both the males and females. Female light organs are restricted to the edges of these abdominal segments. It can be distinguished from P. borealis by the secondary pubescence on the dorsal surface of the elytra. While longer primary pubescence sparsely covers the entire elytra of P. dispersa, the very small hairs comprising the secondary pubescence cover only the apical quarter of each elytron, making more of the elytra appear glabrous than in P. borealis. The pubescence may extend a little further along the elytral suture.
Life History No information available. Conservation No information available. Diet Info The larvae of P. dispersa may feed on snails, like those of P. borealis (Archangelsky 1999) and P. lucifera (Arnett 2001), an eastern Pyractomena species. Range
Pyractomena dispersa occurs in central Alberta. In North America, it has been collected in scattered states and provinces, ranging from the Northwest Territories to Alabama, and from Maine to Idaho and Utah (Green 1957).
Pyractomena dispersa occurs in central Alberta. In North America, it has been collected in scattered states and provinces, ranging from the Northwest Territories to Alabama, and from Maine to Idaho and Utah (Green 1957).

Citation

Page Citation for Pyractomena dispersa

Page Citation

"Species Details - Pyractomena dispersa, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-5430. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

Name Hummel, J. D.
Role species page author
Date 2004

References

Specimen Information

There are 7 specimens of this Species.

7 results plotted on map in 4 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM73408 - Pyractomena dispersa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Leduc Date Collected1914-06-12

UASM73409 - Pyractomena dispersa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByCarr, F. S. Date Collected1915-06-14

UASM73410 - Pyractomena dispersa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Gull Lake Collected ByStrickland, E. H. Date Collected1929-06-11

UASM73873 - Pyractomena dispersa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Leduc Date Collected1914-06-16

UASM73874 - Pyractomena dispersa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Gull Lake Collected ByStrickland, E. H. Date Collected1929-06-21

UASM73411 - Pyractomena dispersa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Gull Lake Collected ByStrickland, E. H. Date Collected1929-06-19

BIRD33293 - Pyractomena dispersa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Cochrane Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected1974-07-10

Adult Seasonal Distribution