The last instar and pupa of Pyropyga nigricans (Say, 1823) are described, illustrated, and compared to those of Pyropyga modesta Green, 1961; these species differ in the color pattern of the pronotum and abdominal tergites, and the morphology of the maxilla and labium. Larvae of the genus Pyropyga Motschulsky, 1852 are compared to those of the genera Lamprohiza Motschulsky, 1853, Lucidota LeConte, 1833, and Phosphaenus Laporte, 1833 (all belonging to the tribe Photinini but to different subtribes); on the basis of general body shape and morphology of the head capsule, antennae, and mouthparts, larvae of the genus Pyropyga seem more closely related to those of the genus Lucidota than to those of the other two genera.