Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Elateroidea
Family: Lampyridae
Subfamily: Photinini
Genus: Phosphaenus

The body length ranges from 6-10 mm, with females being slightly larger than males. The body is dark brown with reddish shades. The female has no lateral luminous organs. The males have shortened wings and often resemble the females. The male of the species P. hemipterus is distinguished from other species of the family Lampyridae by its strikingly long tentacles. The larvae resemble L. noctiluca species, but they lack some red spots and are darker in color. They are predators and often feed on earthworms. It inhabits meadows, floodplains, forest edges, but also parks and gardens. P. hemipterus is widespread in the Mediterranean, Central Europe, and Scandinavian countries.