Observation: Photuris

Observation: Photuris

Primary Observer:

Ellie Shultz

Event Date:

2025-06-23

Status:

Unreviewed

Survey

Site Name:

Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge Wings Marsh

Province/State:

Florida

Event Date:

2025-06-23

Time of Day:

Night-Time

Start Time:

20:30

End Time:

22:50

Number of Observers:

11

Primary Observer:

Ellie Shultz

Additional Observers:

Val Hahn, Rochelle Hood, Natalie Al-Shihabi, Kyle Bogdan, Mike Jennings, Dawn Jennings, Revecca Ponce, Joan Tague, Ellen Tate, Steve Brechbuhl

Target Species Genus:

unknown

Target Species Species:

unknown

Location and Habitat

Location Accuracy (meters):

25-50

Habitat Type:

Open Freshwater Wetland - Wetland Bog, fen, freshwater marsh

Habitat Type Notes:

Observers stayed on elevated path that was bordered by the marsh. A lot of saltmarsh mallow, southern live oak trees on elevated area of path, swamp dock, leafy bladderwort, scarlet rose mallow has been observed here before but we didn't see any in bloom, alligator flag

Elevation (meters):

0

Area Searched (hectares):

50

Artificial Light Sources

Vehicles: No
Street Lights: No
Buildings: No

Artificial Light Types

Sky Glow (diffuse illumination in the sky): 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:

50+

Genus:

Photuris

Species:

unknown

Observation Notes:

Flash pattern was very difficult to determine. We didn't document things well enough with our voice notes (but have a plan to do better next time!), and there was a very long pause between each flash of the fireflies (of which we believe there were several species--see the other observation for this survey) so we lost sight of each individual before we could observe a second flash.

Specimen Voucher Number:

Flash Behavior

First Flash Time:

21:00

Last Flash Time:

21:00

First Flash Temp (F):

80

Last Flash Temp (F):

80

Flashes in Pattern:

1

Flash Color:

Yellow

Flash Pattern Period:

unknown

Flash Duration:

unknown

Flash Interval:

unknown

Male Height Zone:

Low (0-3 ft), Moderate (3-8 ft)

Flash Location:

The fireflies were flying over the marsh. Occasionally they flew across the narrow elevated path that we were on, but they were predominately located over the marsh area

Male Flash Behavior:

 

Female Flash Behavior:

 

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This is a project of the Xerces Society, working in collaboration with the IUCN SSC Firefly Specialist Group and New Mexico BioPark Society.

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