Flower Elf

P. minuta is a tiny beetle, with adults measuring 3–7 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long. Its wing covers, or elytra, and its body are solid black. The head shield, or pronotum, is pale yellow with a narrow, dark rectangular bar in the center, reaching from the top of the pronotum to the base. The bar flares wider towards the bottom and is bounded on the sides by red. Like the other fireflies in the Pyropyga genus, P. minuta does not have working lanterns on its abdomen.

Adults are seen during the day in gardens, yards, open woodlands, fencerows, and open areas, often on leaves or on flowers.

Beetles such as P. minuta go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Although the adults don't have lanterns and therefore do not flash, the larvae of P. minuta are bioluminescent, like all fireflies. Larvae are believed to be subterranean, living under the soil.

The genus name Pyropyga is from Greek, combining "pyro", meaning "fire", and "pyga", meaning "rump" or "tail". The specific epithet, minuta, refers to the firefly's very small size.