We did observe some adult flashing, but the highlight of the evening was truly special—in our four years of surveying at Armand Bayou Nature Center, we finally found Pyractomena lucifera larvae for the first time! We typically see the adults twice a year, starting in April for a few months and again in July. The larvae were discovered in the mud near the plants, as the water level was low.

The first sighting came from a first-time Glow Patrol member who noticed a faint glow on the ground rather than in flight. As we looked closer, we found more glowing spots and managed to lean over the platform and extend a net to capture one for photo identification.

One theory is that these larvae enter diapause and later emerge as our April adults. We were surprised to see how long the larvae were in comparison with how small the luficera adults are. It was a very exciting night for everyone!