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Observation: Photuris forresti
Primary Observer:
Richard Joyce
Event Date:
2022-05-30
Status:
Verified
Survey
Site Name:
Sandy Creek Nature Center, Claypit Pond
Province/State:
Georgia
Event Date:
2022-05-30
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
20:50
End Time:
23:18
Number of Observers:
1
Primary Observer:
Richard Joyce
Additional Observers:
NA
Target Species Genus:
Photuris
Target Species Species:
forresti
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
50-100
Habitat Type:
Open Freshwater Wetland - Wetland Bog, fen, freshwater marsh
Habitat Type Notes:
Wetland along Sandy Creek at inlet to the Claypit Pond. Mix of marsh and floodplain with herbaceous ground layer (sedges, grasses), bare mud, and some canopy trees (red maple). In the pond there was yellow pond lily plants (Nuphar).
Elevation (meters):
188
Area Searched (hectares):
0.75
Artificial Light Sources
Vehicles: Yes
Street Lights: No
Buildings: No
Street Lights: No
Buildings: No
Artificial Light Types
Sky Glow (diffuse illumination in the sky): Yes
Light Trespass (light cast on surfaces beyond its intended target): No
Glare (bright light causing visual discomfort): Yes
Light Trespass (light cast on surfaces beyond its intended target): No
Glare (bright light causing visual discomfort): Yes
Artificial Light Notes:
Minimal artificial light, though some sky glow and glare from vehicle headlights. Trees screened the vehicle headlights pretty well.
Observation
Observation Type:
Flashing
Number Observed:
11-50
Genus:
Photuris
Species:
forresti
Observation Notes:
In the general vicinity, I also observed what appeared to be Photinus macdermotti (a double flasher with a 2 second interval and a 6 second dark period), a treetop single flasher (perhaps Photuris tremulans), Photuris frontalis (one individual caught in spider web), and Photinus consimilis (flashtrain emitted over floodplain).
Presumed male P. forresti was captured and photographed around 9:25 PM. It had fuzzy dark elytra with no elytral vittae, dark hind coxae, pale femora, and a pale median patch on segment 5. Pronotal vittae widened basally and was arrow-shaped apically.
Specimen Voucher Number:
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
21:09
Last Flash Time:
23:18
First Flash Temp (F):
68.3
Last Flash Temp (F):
67.2
Flashes in Pattern:
>4
Flash Color:
Green
Flash Pattern Period:
Too long to be confident the next FP was the same individual.
Flash Duration:
0.3
Flash Interval:
0.2
Male Height Zone:
Low (0-3 ft), Moderate (3-8 ft)
Flash Location:
Flashing in more open areas of marshy floodplain, at heights ranging from knee-high to overhead height. Also flashing over the pond lilies (Nuphar) floating on the Claypit Pond.
Male Flash Behavior:
Recorded several flash patterns of 5-6 flashes. Pulse duration and flash interval were not possible to measure precisely, but flash period (not FP period) ranged from around 0.3 seconds to 0.7 seconds, averaging around 0.5 seconds.
Female Flash Behavior:
Some female Photuris were observed flashing erratically from grass and other low vegetation.
