A historical correction to the type species of Luciola sheds new light on firefly taxonomy and conservation.
Our tem members in cooperation with international team of colleagues reexamined historical literature on the firefly genus Luciola and discovered a misidentification of its type species. Based on the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, they officially designated Lampyris lusitanica, described in 1825, as the correct type species. This taxonomic update is crucial for future studies in evolutionary biology and firefly conservation. A neotype was established using both morphological and molecular data. The change does not disrupt nomenclatural stability and addresses criticisms raised in a 2024 publication.