Observation: Phausis reticulata
Primary Observer:
Skye Young
Event Date:
2026-06-12
Status:
Unverified
Survey
Site Name:
Undisclosed
Province/State:
North Carolina
Event Date:
2026-06-12
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
20:45
End Time:
22:00
Number of Observers:
8
Primary Observer:
Skye Young
Additional Observers:
Megan Knight, Lenny Lampel, Cheryl Williams, Eva Kinney, Stefanie Hedrick, Abby Fry, Jacob Fry
target_species_genus:
phausis
target_species_species:
reticulata
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
0-25
Habitat Type:
Woodland/Forest - Trees dominant, and in the over-story
Habitat Type Notes:
Elevation (meters):
210.88 m
Area Searched (hectares):
0.005
Artificial Light Sources
Vehicles: No
Street Lights: No
Buildings: No
Red light headlamps
Street Lights: No
Buildings: No
Red light headlamps
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:
We used occasional red light headlamps to aid in our search and collection
Observation
Observation Type:
Without Flash Data
Number Observed:
11-50
genus:
phausis
Species:
reticulata
Observation Notes:
Body length confirmed 7mm; low flying (1-2ft) single blueish light emission with minimum 15 seconds before a long interval. Sometimes when we thought their glow stopped and our eyes adjusted, we could see that they were casting a pale blue spotlight on the ground. Plants in habitat to be confirmed in daylight. We collected two specimens. One of our specimens will remain the natural resources collection at the Dr. James F. Matthews Center for Biodiversity Studies and the other is being sent to Jerry Reynolds Head of Outreach at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences | N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources
Returned 6/23/26 and it was no longer present. Late active/mating period and size has raised the question if it is Phausis christineae, reticulata or a new species.
Specimen Voucher Number:
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
Last Flash Time:
First Flash Temp (F):
Last Flash Temp (F):
Flashes in Pattern:
Flash Color:
Flash Pattern Period:
Flash Duration:
Flash Interval:
Male Height Zone:
Flash Location:
Male Flash Behavior:
Female Flash Behavior:
1 thought on “Observation: Phausis reticulata”
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Thanks for submitting this observation! I am awaiting the opinion of Alana Eargle (who is studying Phausis firefly taxonomy at Western Carolina University), but I believe the Phausis you documented is a blue ghost, Phausis reticulata.
Phausis christineae would have narrower lanterns (more confined to the center of the abdominal segments) and pointer lobes on the pygidium. (Both species have a pygidium with a V-shaped notch and two triangular lobes, but these lobes are pointier in P. christineae.) Additionally, the expected time to see Phausis christinaeae would be late April and early May.
According to the range map in Hodson and Branham 2024 (https://mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.5458.1.1), Phausis reticulata has been recorded from Union, Mecklenburg, and Cabarrus counties.