Observation: Unknown

Observation: Unknown

Primary Observer:

David

Event Date:

2025-07-23

Status:

Unverified

Survey

Site Name:

Home

Province/State:

Maine

Event Date:

2025-07-23

Time of Day:

Night-Time

Start Time:

21:40

End Time:

21:55

Number of Observers:

1

Primary Observer:

David

Additional Observers:

 

Target Species Genus:

 

Target Species Species:

 

Location and Habitat

Location Accuracy (meters):

0-25

Habitat Type:

Grassland/Meadow - Meadow, open, grasses dominant

Habitat Type Notes:

 

Elevation (meters):

3

Area Searched (hectares):

 

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:

2-10

Genus:

unknown

Species:

unknown

Observation Notes:

Single flashes of 1-2 sec with at least 15 sec between flashes, often longer

Specimen Voucher Number:

Flash Behavior

First Flash Time:

21:40

Last Flash Time:

21:55

First Flash Temp (F):

Approx 70

Last Flash Temp (F):

Approx 70

Flashes in Pattern:

1

Flash Color:

Yellow

Flash Pattern Period:

1

Flash Duration:

1

Flash Interval:

15 to > 69

Male Height Zone:

Flash Location:

In grass

Male Flash Behavior:

 

Female Flash Behavior:

 

1 thought on “Observation: Unknown”

  1. Thank you for submitting this firefly observation! I am intrigued about what species this might have been, but would need photos of the firefly up close to confidently narrow down the options. There are currently 11 species of flashing fireflies known to occur in Maine.

    A note about flash pattern terminology:
    “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, 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.

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