Observation: Photuris frontalis
Primary Observer:
Jason Poston
Event Date:
2026-05-15
Status:
Verified
Survey
Site Name:
Undisclosed
Province/State:
South Carolina
Event Date:
2026-05-15
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
20:30
End Time:
21:30
Number of Observers:
1
Primary Observer:
Jason Poston
Additional Observers:
NA
target_species_genus:
unknown
target_species_species:
unknown
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
>1000
Habitat Type:
Woodland/Forest - Trees dominant, and in the over-story
Habitat Type Notes:
Transition area between sandhill and bottomland. Mixed pine and hardwood
Elevation (meters):
12
Area Searched (hectares):
1
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:
photuris
Species:
frontalis
Observation Notes:
Many individuals seen, two caught and photographed with net. I would prefer that this record be only observable at a county level and no other details on the location made available publicly.
Specimen Voucher Number:
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
20:45
Last Flash Time:
21:30
First Flash Temp (F):
70
Last Flash Temp (F):
63
Flashes in Pattern:
>4
Flash Color:
Yellow
Flash Pattern Period:
1
Flash Duration:
1
Flash Interval:
1
Male Height Zone:
Low (0-3 ft), Moderate (3-8 ft)
Flash Location:
Woodline near recently logged ROW
Male Flash Behavior:
Flashing repeatedly once every second.
Female Flash Behavior:
2 thoughts on “Observation: Photuris frontalis”
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I believe this is a county record. I would prefer that this record be only observable at a county level and no other details on the location made available publicly. Can the map pin be moved to the center of the county or make the map not visible if the area is selected as undisclosed? Thanks
This is a nice find, Jason! I appreciate your concern regarding geoprivacy, as there is a lot of public interest in this species. With the current location obscuration, the displayed coordinates are rounded to a single decimal place, so this observation is currently mapped in an open ag field.
We don’t currently have a way for the public location to be the county centroid while still retaining the true coordinates in the database. If the current geoprivacy doesn’t feel adequate to you, the options would be to 1) delete this observation or 2) change the coordinates to the Florence county centroid, 34.0049,-79.8052, and change the survey location accuracy to >1000 meters so that we know not to use the point for SDMs or other applications requiring precise location.
I’d be happy to further discuss data and location privacy as it relates to Photuris frontalis in particular– just send me an email at [email protected].