Lampyridae Rafinesque, 1815

head concealed from above by flattened pronotum; pronotum nearly as wide as elytra. Elytra loosely covering body, with nearly parallel sides and rounded ends. Females sometimes short-winged or wingless; these larviform females are often distinguished from larvae by the presence of comound eyes. Body soft and flattened. Antennae threadlike to saw-toothed. Tarsi 5-5-5.