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Observation: Pyractomena borealis
Primary Observer:
Carol Croy
Event Date:
2025-04-16
Status:
Verified
Survey
Site Name:
Falls Ridge
Province/State:
Virginia
Event Date:
2025-04-16
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
21:00
End Time:
23:00
Number of Observers:
2
Primary Observer:
Carol Croy
Additional Observers:
Steve Croy
Target Species Genus:
unknown
Target Species Species:
unknown
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
0-25
Habitat Type:
Woodland/Forest - Trees dominant, and in the over-story
Habitat Type Notes:
Mixed oak, hickory, poplar, maple, buckeye, some pine, previously ash
Elevation (meters):
549
Area Searched (hectares):
1
Artificial Light Sources
Vehicles: No
Street Lights: No
Buildings: Yes
Street Lights: No
Buildings: Yes
Artificial Light Types
Sky Glow (diffuse illumination in the sky): Yes
Light Trespass (light cast on surfaces beyond its intended target): No
Glare (bright light causing visual discomfort): No
Light Trespass (light cast on surfaces beyond its intended target): No
Glare (bright light causing visual discomfort): No
Artificial Light Notes:
Generally dark, site is on a ridgetop accessed by a private gravel road and only 1 house present. Adjacent to Falls Ridge Nature Conservancy Preserve. In a valley sparsely populated due to private land ownership in large parcels.
Observation
Observation Type:
Flashing
Number Observed:
11-50
Genus:
Pyractomena
Species:
borealis
Observation Notes:
Other possible species ruled out due to time of year and flashing behavior. This population has been observed here for a number of years. Finally figured out what possible species this might be and have joined the firefly atlas.
Specimen Voucher Number:
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
21:00
Last Flash Time:
23:00
First Flash Temp (F):
70
Last Flash Temp (F):
68
Flashes in Pattern:
1
Flash Color:
Yellow
Flash Pattern Period:
1
Flash Duration:
1
Flash Interval:
3
Male Height Zone:
High (over 8 ft)
Flash Location:
In woodland and a small opening within the woodland dominated by shrubs and scattered small trees
Male Flash Behavior:
Single warm flashes every couple of seconds. Later in the evening observed random single flashes.
Female Flash Behavior:
1 thought on “Observation: Pyractomena borealis”
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Thank you for submitting this firefly observation! I agree that this is Pyractomena borealis because no other species are flashing this time of year, and the single flashes high in the trees aligns well with this species.
One note about the flash pattern terminology–
You can refer to the diagrams on the back of the Firefly Atlas data-sheet for a visual reminder of what each term means.
For Pyractomena borealis, I would expect flash pattern details that looked something like this:
Flash pattern period: 3-4 seconds
Flash duration: 0.25 seconds, “quick” or “brief”
Flash interval: 2.75 seconds (flash pattern period minus flash duration)
I know these terms can be confusing, but they are necessary because of fireflies with more complex flash patterns (for example ones with long glows or multi-pulse flash patterns).