Observation: Photinus knulli
Primary Observer:
Candace Fallon
Event Date:
2024-08-04
Status:
Verified
Survey
Site Name:
Undisclosed
Province/State:
Arizona
Event Date:
2024-08-04
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
19:19
End Time:
22:18
Number of Observers:
7
Primary Observer:
Candace Fallon
Additional Observers:
Saff Killingsworth, Lucas Hetherington, Tony Palmer, Roni Doyon, Devon Stackonis, Melina Tye
target_species_genus:
photinus
target_species_species:
knulli
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
0-25
Habitat Type:
Riparian - Areas Along lake or stream
Habitat Type Notes:
Flat, open canopy sandy wash with standing water and scattered cobble/boulders. Dominant plants are grasses, catclaw acacia, oat grass, and Eragrostis bunchgrasses. There's a cluster of trees within the survey area providing shade that's composed of a sycamore and canyon hackberry.
Elevation (meters):
987.9
Area Searched (hectares):
0.3
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): Yes
Light Trespass (light cast on surfaces beyond its intended target): No
Glare (bright light causing visual discomfort): Yes
Artificial Light Notes:
Tucson sky glow is bright tonight with the open horizon and cloud cover. There is some distant glare from neighboring houses, but it's quite faint at the site (more noticeable on the horizon).
Observation
Observation Type:
With Flash Data
Number Observed:
11-50
genus:
photinus
Species:
knulli
Observation Notes:
At least a dozen fireflies observed over the course of the survey period. Two adult males were caught for species ID verification and measured 7.5 and 8 mm in length, each with yellow elytral margins, thick black center stripes on the pronotum, and black pronotal margins.
Specimen Voucher Number:
XS-COL-2024-004, XS-COL-2024-005
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
20:53
Last Flash Time:
22:18
First Flash Temp (F):
79
Last Flash Temp (F):
74
Flashes in Pattern:
3
Flash Color:
Green
Flash Pattern Period:
7
Flash Duration:
<0.5
Flash Interval:
6
Male Height Zone:
Moderate (3-8 ft), High (over 8 ft)
Flash Location:
Adult males seen cruising up and down the moist side channel along the creek bed, which is bordered by lush grass. They were flying high, typically 6 feet up to the upper branches of the sycamore and hackberry. Flashes were also observed in the more heavily forested hillside up towards the driveway to the house. Individuals seemed concentrated in the darker undercanopy by the trees.
Male Flash Behavior:
Both double and triple flash patterns were observed. Males would fly parallel to the ground, rise, then slowly swoop down with slightly less vivid flashing. Several individuals were seen looping around the survey area, flying from the moist side channel up towards the trees, circling around these trees, swinging back out to the main creek channel, and then closing in to the side channel.
Female Flash Behavior:
Single flashes observed from low vegetation in the forested hillside by the driveway.
