Observation: Phausis reticulata
Primary Observer:
Chris DeJaegher
Event Date:
2026-05-16
Status:
Unreviewed
Survey
Site Name:
Undisclosed
Province/State:
Georgia
Event Date:
2026-05-16
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
20:30
End Time:
21:30
Number of Observers:
2
Primary Observer:
Chris DeJaegher
Additional Observers:
Erica DeJaegher Nichols
target_species_genus:
photuris
target_species_species:
forresti
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
0-25
Habitat Type:
Riparian - Areas Along lake or stream
Habitat Type Notes:
Due to development, the area has become too wet at times and we are slowly losing a lot of the hardwoods (one of the creeks is in a gulch that's at least 6' deep and water has risen to overflow the banks and wash over many acres (88 acre site). (This land was donated to the Georgia Wildlife Federation by the developers of the mall in 2003).
Lots of chinese privet, which gets pulled regularly, acres of siltgrass, lots of arrowhead and other typical wetland plants, typical piedmont understory.
Elevation (meters):
308
Area Searched (hectares):
.5
Artificial Light Sources
Vehicles: No
Street Lights: Yes
Buildings: Yes
Street Lights: Yes
Buildings: Yes
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): No
Light Trespass (light cast on surfaces beyond its intended target): No
Glare (bright light causing visual discomfort): No
Artificial Light Notes:
This WMA is down in a hole, across the road from The Mall of Georgia so there is plenty of sky glow.
Observation
Observation Type:
With Flash Data
Number Observed:
11-50
genus:
phausis
Species:
reticulata
Observation Notes:
Only netted one male to avoid further habitat trampling: 8mm, observed one, then a few more, within minutes we saw dozens. Several were near scrub and the rest came to hover over a particular area of silt grass that was approx 25 feet from the back creek. Long blue glows on all of them, lasting 8-14 seconds. We did not attempt to see females down in the siltgrass, we stayed on the raised walkway.
Specimen Voucher Number:
none
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
21:06
Last Flash Time:
21:31
First Flash Temp (F):
73
Last Flash Temp (F):
73
Flashes in Pattern:
1
Flash Color:
Blue
Flash Pattern Period:
20
Flash Duration:
avg of 10 or 11
Flash Interval:
avg of 10 or 11
Male Height Zone:
Low (0-3 ft)
Flash Location:
Over a silt grass area that was approx 25 feet from the back creek.
The interval between flashes was long enough that we would lose sight of them. I saw one that appeared to be the same one and flashed again after about 8 seconds.
We told police we'd be out at 9:40 so we only had approx 25 minutes to survey flashings. On the way we observed a deep dark scrub area that had an empty center with a lower, leaf covered floor. We noticed that there was a high concentration of males in there compared to the ones over the silt grass, probably double the amount.
Male Flash Behavior:
Long 10-11 sec flashing with directional changes frequently, we had a hard time following any one specimen. This siltgrass area was approx 15 x 30' and had maybe 30-40 males start flashing within 1 minute of passed time as we were preparing to move.
Female Flash Behavior:
We did not try, stayed on the walkway.
