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Observation: Photinus pyralis
Primary Observer:
Christine Tysor
Event Date:
2025-07-25
Status:
Unverified
Survey
Site Name:
Ellett Valley
Province/State:
Virginia
Event Date:
2025-07-25
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
21:17
End Time:
21:35
Number of Observers:
1
Primary Observer:
Christine Tysor
Additional Observers:
NA
Target Species Genus:
Photinus
Target Species Species:
pyralis
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
0-25
Habitat Type:
Woodland/Forest - Trees dominant, and in the over-story
Habitat Type Notes:
Elevation (meters):
581
Area Searched (hectares):
.001
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:
None
Observation
Observation Type:
Flashing
Number Observed:
2-10
Genus:
Photinus
Species:
pyralis
Observation Notes:
Specimen Voucher Number:
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
21:20
Last Flash Time:
21:32
First Flash Temp (F):
70
Last Flash Temp (F):
70
Flashes in Pattern:
1
Flash Color:
Green
Flash Pattern Period:
2
Flash Duration:
1-1.5 seconds
Flash Interval:
5 seconds
Male Height Zone:
Moderate (3-8 ft), High (over 8 ft)
Flash Location:
Along the tree line over tall grasses
Male Flash Behavior:
flash would come on in flight, a greenish light lasting about 1-1.5 seconds each.
Female Flash Behavior:
Not observed
1 thought on “Observation: Photinus pyralis”
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Thank you for submitting this firefly observation! I am curious what species it was, as several aspects of the flash behavior (green color, moderate-high height) don’t fit with what I would expect for the big dipper firefly (Photinus pyralis), and the timing of the flash activity is also a bit on the late side for the big dipper, which is mostly a dusk/twilight species.
A quick note about flash pattern details:
“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”). Photinus pyralis flash durations are typically between 0.5 and 1 seconds in duration.
“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.