Observation: Pyractomena
Primary Observer:
Anna Walker
Event Date:
2026-06-11
Status:
Unreviewed
Survey
Site Name:
Holy Ghost Campground, Pecos Wilderness
Province/State:
New Mexico
Event Date:
2026-06-11
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
21:15
End Time:
21:58
Number of Observers:
2
Primary Observer:
Anna Walker
Additional Observers:
Conor Walker
target_species_genus:
pyractomena
target_species_species:
angulata
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
0-25
Habitat Type:
Riparian - Areas Along lake or stream
Habitat Type Notes:
Habitat is adjacent to mountain stream, though display was spread around a large area of pine dominated forest. Some fireflies, including possible females, were 30-50m from wet area. Individual fireflies (probably both females and males) were found in vegetation such as scrub oak and aspen.
Elevation (meters):
2512
Area Searched (hectares):
.8
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:
Remote, quiet Forest Service campground.
Observation
Observation Type:
With Flash Data
Number Observed:
2-10
genus:
pyractomena
Species:
unknown
Observation Notes:
There may have been more than 10 individuals, but not by much. This is the highest abundance I have seen, so far, at this site. This is also the first time it was warm enough for males to fly, so I finally got to see the courtship flash pattern. It does seem to align with that of Py. angulata, though additional field studies are needed to confirm all aspects of the male flash and female response, as few individuals were seen. Morphologically, specimens are not a definite match for Py. angulata (yellow border of elytra is not notably wide, though varies from specimen to specimen, the pronotum has more dark pigment, and all characters of the ventral surface are extremely dark).
Specimen Voucher Number:
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
21:28
Last Flash Time:
21:58
First Flash Temp (F):
61
Last Flash Temp (F):
58
Flashes in Pattern:
1
Flash Color:
Orange
Flash Pattern Period:
5
Flash Duration:
1
Flash Interval:
4
Male Height Zone:
High (over 8 ft)
Flash Location:
Some males are flashing while flying high, about 30 feet off the ground. Other males are emitting flicker flashes from the bushes, in shrubby/grassy habitat adjacent to the stream. Male caught and photographed was flashing from a shrub, about 7 feet off the ground. Males flying covered fairly large distances in dark phase of flash (7-10 feet). They flew quite high into the surrounding pine forest, away from the riparian area.
Male Flash Behavior:
Flash is a flicker and pulses are easy to see at this temperature. I was only able to see three or four courtship flashes, due to low abundance, and did not get a good handle on the number of pulses per flicker, or period, duration, and interval of the flash pattern. I was able to capture video of one male flashing from the bushes, and he emitted four pulses, though I may have missed additional pulses based on how the video is cut (the flash is present immediately after pressing play, so I cannot be sure that the first half of the flash was not captured).
Female Flash Behavior:
Single flashes (no visible flicker) were observed from the bushes/ vegetation anywhere from 2-7 feet high. I was unable to catch one to confirm identity. Only about three total were seen. Response delay was not observed.
