Observation: Unknown
Primary Observer:
Ed Champoux
Event Date:
2023-07-26
Status:
Unverified
Survey
Site Name:
Undisclosed
Province/State:
New York
Event Date:
2023-07-26
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
21:00
End Time:
21:30
Number of Observers:
1
Primary Observer:
Ed Champoux
Additional Observers:
NA
target_species_genus:
target_species_species:
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
0-25
Habitat Type:
Grassland/Meadow - Meadow, open, grasses dominant
Habitat Type Notes:
Elevation (meters):
123
Area Searched (hectares):
1
Artificial Light Sources
Vehicles: Yes
Street Lights: No
Buildings: Yes
Street Lights: No
Buildings: Yes
Artificial Light Types
Sky Glow (diffuse illumination in the sky): No
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:
Observation
Observation Type:
With Flash Data
Number Observed:
50+
genus:
unknown
Species:
unknown
Observation Notes:
Specimen Voucher Number:
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
21:00
Last Flash Time:
23:00
First Flash Temp (F):
74
Last Flash Temp (F):
72
Flashes in Pattern:
1
Flash Color:
White
Flash Pattern Period:
1-2
Flash Duration:
1-2
Flash Interval:
5-10
Male Height Zone:
Low (0-3 ft)
Flash Location:
In the grass, and some in the trees.
Male Flash Behavior:
Female Flash Behavior:
1 thought on “Observation: Unknown”
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Thanks for submitting this firefly observation, Ed. It’s not easy to get photos of firefly flashes!
The flash details that you recorded and the characteristics in the photo unfortunately aren’t enough to narrow down the ID to genus, as there are fireflies with single-flash flash patterns in Photuris, Photinus, and Pyractomena. Based on the activity period (full darkness), I might lean toward Photuris, but the surest way to narrow down the possible genera and species would be to have a close-up photo of the insect itself.
One note about flash pattern terminology– on the back of the Firefly Atlas data sheet there is a diagram indicating what “flash interval” and “flash pattern period” refer to. In single-flashers, “flash pattern period” and “flash interval” are almost the same number. (flash pattern period – flash duration = flash interval).