Observation: Photinus consimilis
Primary Observer:
Ellie Shultz
Event Date:
2025-06-23
Status:
Verified
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
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
Light Trespass (light cast on surfaces beyond its intended target): No
Glare (bright light causing visual discomfort): No
Artificial Light Notes:
Observation
Observation Type:
With Flash Data
Number Observed:
50+
genus:
photinus
Species:
consimilis
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:
1 thought on “Observation: Photinus consimilis”
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This appears to be Photinus consimilis, based on the dark ventrites, dark pygidium, dark scutellum, flared shape of dark pronotal marking, and length of ~10-11 mm. The other Photinus in Florida with similar coloration and size are non-wetland species in the consanguineus complex.