Systematic review of the firefly genus Emeia Fu, Ballantyne & Lambkin, 2012 (Coleoptera, Lampyridae) from China

Abstract

The Luciolinae genus Emeia Fu, Ballantyne & Lambkin, 2012 is reviewed. Phylogenetic relationships based on cox1 DNA barcoding sequences from 42 fireflies and 2 outgroup species are reconstructed. The dataset included three main Lampyridae subfamilies: Luciolinae, Photurinae and Lampyrinae, and Emeia was recovered within Luciolinae. A new species, Emeia pulchra Zhu & Zhen sp. nov., is described from the wetland of Lishui, Zhejiang, China. Emeia pulchra is sister species to E. pseudosauteri from Sichuan, which is supported by morphological characters and a phylogeny based on DNA barcoding sequences. The two species are separated geographically as shown on the distribution map. A key to species of Emeia using males is provided.