Observation: Unknown
Primary Observer:
Cat McElroy
Event Date:
2025-06-10
Status:
Unverified
Survey
Site Name:
Undisclosed
Province/State:
West Virginia
Event Date:
2025-06-10
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
23:00
End Time:
23:10
Number of Observers:
1
Primary Observer:
Cat McElroy
Additional Observers:
NA
target_species_genus:
unknown
target_species_species:
unknown
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
0-25
Habitat Type:
Developed - Sub/urban areas; parks/gardens
Habitat Type Notes:
In partially mowed yard with tall, uncut grass and mature forest nearby.
Elevation (meters):
0.5
Area Searched (hectares):
0.08
Artificial Light Sources
Vehicles: No
Street Lights: No
Buildings: No
Street Lights: No
Buildings: No
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:
A small light was on on my house but I was around the side of my house looking towards and unlit forest. A street lamp is also on at the front of my house.
Observation
Observation Type:
With Flash Data
Number Observed:
2-10
genus:
unknown
Species:
unknown
Observation Notes:
In mowed lawn with uncut grass and mature forest nearby. All flashes were yellow, less than 1 meter above the ground and singular, simple flash pattern.
Specimen Voucher Number:
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
23:00
Last Flash Time:
23:10
First Flash Temp (F):
64
Last Flash Temp (F):
64
Flashes in Pattern:
1
Flash Color:
Yellow
Flash Pattern Period:
About 8 seconds
Flash Duration:
1
Flash Interval:
15
Male Height Zone:
Low (0-3 ft)
Flash Location:
In mowed lawn with nearby forest and tall grass.
Male Flash Behavior:
Female Flash Behavior:
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! Based on the location, low height zone, and lawn habitat it is likely that this was Photinus pyralis, the big dipper firefly.
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.