Observation: Unknown
Primary Observer:
Deb Eldred
Event Date:
2025-06-08
Status:
Unverified
Survey
Site Name:
Undisclosed
Province/State:
Tennessee
Event Date:
2025-06-08
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
20:45
End Time:
00:15
Number of Observers:
2
Primary Observer:
Deb Eldred
Additional Observers:
Mari Storkamp
target_species_genus:
photinus
target_species_species:
carolinus
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
0-25
Habitat Type:
Woodland/Forest - Trees dominant, and in the over-story
Habitat Type Notes:
Unknown.
Elevation (meters):
300
Area Searched (hectares):
0-1
Artificial Light Sources
Vehicles: No
Street Lights: No
Buildings: No
one outdoor light
Street Lights: No
Buildings: No
one outdoor light
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:
There is one outdoor street light on neighbor’s property. The woods are dark where the fireflies were lighting up.
Observation
Observation Type:
With Flash Data
Number Observed:
50+
genus:
unknown
Species:
unknown
Observation Notes:
Females low on trees and vegetation. Males flying around. Lit in groups with some wave activation across the groups. Observed at 2100.
Specimen Voucher Number:
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
21:00
Last Flash Time:
00:00
First Flash Temp (F):
73
Last Flash Temp (F):
69
Flashes in Pattern:
1
Flash Color:
Yellow
Flash Pattern Period:
2
Flash Duration:
2
Flash Interval:
3
Male Height Zone:
Moderate (3-8 ft)
Flash Location:
The flash location is low and in trees/vegetation.
Male Flash Behavior:
Lighting up more sporadically and flying in air
Female Flash Behavior:
Unk
1 thought on “Observation: Unknown”
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Thank you for submitting this firefly observation! Without a photo of the firefly, it is tricky to reach a species identification, but it is great to know that this site supports fireflies!
I changed the species ID to “unknown” because Photinus carolinus isn’t known to occur this far west, and its flash pattern is different from the one you described.
A note about flash pattern terminology, for next firefly season:
“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, the big dipper firefly (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 basically the same as “flash pattern period,” just a little shorter.