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Observation: Pyractomena borealis
Primary Observer:
Jeffrey calta
Event Date:
2025-05-11
Status:
Verified
Survey
Site Name:
Fairview Township
Province/State:
Pennsylvania
Event Date:
2025-05-11
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
21:00
End Time:
21:29
Number of Observers:
1
Primary Observer:
Jeffrey calta
Additional Observers:
Target Species Genus:
unknown
Target Species Species:
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
250-500
Habitat Type:
Woodland/Forest - Trees dominant, and in the over-story
Habitat Type Notes:
Fireflies were in a line of cherry trees that order a small stream
Elevation (meters):
400
Area Searched (hectares):
2
Artificial Light Sources
Vehicles: No
Street Lights: No
Buildings: No
full moon rising
Street Lights: No
Buildings: No
full moon rising
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:
Observation
Observation Type:
Flashing
Number Observed:
2-10
Genus:
Pyractomena
Species:
borealis
Observation Notes:
Specimen Voucher Number:
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
21:00
Last Flash Time:
21:30
First Flash Temp (F):
60
Last Flash Temp (F):
56
Flashes in Pattern:
1
Flash Color:
Yellow
Flash Pattern Period:
3
Flash Duration:
0.5
Flash Interval:
8
Male Height Zone:
High (over 8 ft)
Flash Location:
Tree tops
Male Flash Behavior:
Female Flash Behavior:
1 thought on “Observation: Pyractomena borealis”
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Thanks for submitting this incidental firefly observation! I agree that these were Pyractomena borealis, based on the time of year and the flash behavior.
One thing to note about flash pattern terminology– flash pattern period is the time in seconds between the start of a flash pattern and the start of when that flash pattern unit is repeated. Was the flash pattern period 3 seconds or 8 seconds?
In cases of simple (single) flash patterns with brief pulses, the flash pattern period and the flash interval are almost the same, but flash pattern period will always be slightly longer. (In these cases, flash interval= flash pattern period – flash duration). The Firefly Atlas data sheet has diagrams on the back illustrating what these terms refer to.