Observation: Photinus pyralis
Primary Observer:
Kathie Farnell
Event Date:
2025-04-29
Status:
Unreviewed
Survey
Site Name:
Foley
Province/State:
Alabama
Event Date:
2025-04-29
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
19:56
End Time:
20:10
Number of Observers:
1
Primary Observer:
Kathie Farnell
Additional Observers:
Target Species Genus:
Photinus
Target Species Species:
pyralis
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
>1000
Habitat Type:
Developed - Sub/urban areas; parks/gardens
Habitat Type Notes:
Elevation (meters):
500
Area Searched (hectares):
.50
Artificial Light Sources
Vehicles: No
Street Lights: Yes
Buildings: No
Street Lights: Yes
Buildings: No
Artificial Light Types
Sky Glow (diffuse illumination in the sky): Yes
Light Trespass (light cast on surfaces beyond its intended target): Yes
Glare (bright light causing visual discomfort): No
Light Trespass (light cast on surfaces beyond its intended target): Yes
Glare (bright light causing visual discomfort): No
Artificial Light Notes:
Observation
Observation Type:
Flashing
Number Observed:
1
Genus:
Photinus
Species:
pyralis
Observation Notes:
Specimen Voucher Number:
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
20:01
Last Flash Time:
20:01
First Flash Temp (F):
70
Last Flash Temp (F):
70
Flashes in Pattern:
1
Flash Color:
Yellow
Flash Pattern Period:
1
Flash Duration:
1
Flash Interval:
1
Male Height Zone:
Moderate (3-8 ft)
Flash Location:
in high shrubs
Male Flash Behavior:
one flash from shrubs
Female Flash Behavior:
1 thought on “Observation: Photinus pyralis”
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Thank you for submitting this firefly observation!
A quick note about flash pattern details:
“Flash pattern period” refers to the number of seconds between the start of a flash pattern and the start of the next repetition of that flash pattern. For example, Photinus pyralis typically has a flash pattern period of 5-7 seconds.
“Flash duration” is how long each flash lasts. Usually this is too fast to measure accurately, but you can estimate whether it is more or less than 0.5 seconds, you can enter “not recorded,” or you can do a verbal description (such as “very brief”).
“Flash interval” refers to the time between the end of one flash and the beginning of the next. In species with single flash patterns and short flash durations, this is just a tiny bit shorter than the “flash pattern period.”
For a typical Photinus pyralis flash pattern, these might be the flash details:
-flash pattern period= 6 seconds
-flash duration= 0.5 seconds
-flash interval= 5.5 seconds
I know this can be a lot to keep track of, but it is necessary for some of the more complicated flash patterns, like slow glows or multi-pulse flash patterns.
There are diagrams on the back of the Firefly Atlas data sheet with reminders about what these flash pattern terms refer to.