Observation: Photinus pyralis
Primary Observer:
Michelle Serreyn
Event Date:
2026-07-12
Status:
Unreviewed
Survey
Site Name:
My house
Province/State:
Michigan
Event Date:
2026-07-12
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
21:00
End Time:
21:30
Number of Observers:
1
Primary Observer:
Michelle Serreyn
Additional Observers:
target_species_genus:
photinus
target_species_species:
pyralis
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
0-25
Habitat Type:
Developed - Sub/urban areas; parks/gardens
Habitat Type Notes:
Yard mostly sunny, especially back yard and south half of front yard. Large Norway maple in side yard, large mulberry in north half of front yard. Lawn (most of yard) mostly mix of grass types and non-native broadleaf plants, short around perimeter but up to 6 inches in area adjacent to front of house and in patches in the back yard. Native plant beds on east side of garage, front (east side) of house and along the south side of the house and yard. Native plants primarily prairie and wetland species such as milkweeds, penstemons, coneflowers (Echinacea, Ratibida, Rudbeckia), monardas, goldenrods, vervains, coreopsis, asters, liatris, native grasses and sedges. North side of house mulched with leaf litter, bordered by logs and heavily shaded under a mix of white pine, silver maple, yew and mulberry. Ground level and understory plant material mix of native and non-native but very few plants. Soil mostly clay except directly adjacent to south side of house, which is mostly sandy.
Elevation (meters):
187
Area Searched (hectares):
0.04
Artificial Light Sources
Vehicles: Yes
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): Yes
Glare (bright light causing visual discomfort): No
Light Trespass (light cast on surfaces beyond its intended target): Yes
Glare (bright light causing visual discomfort): No
Artificial Light Notes:
One streetlight illuminates half of front lawn; rest under mulberry tree. More diffuse light in side and backyards, occasionally illuminated by passing car. No light from my house nor adjacent houses (which are either behind me or across streets, since I am on a corner).
Observation
Observation Type:
With Flash Data
Number Observed:
11-50
genus:
photinus
Species:
pyralis
Observation Notes:
Various individuals alighting and flashing from taller vegetation. Most hovering and travelling over open lawn areas and flashing J-shape. Some flying low over lawn, back and forth, with occasional flashing. Two strong stationary flashes periodically in the short grass, one in the backyard and one in the front. Flying individuals seemed to start in my yard, then disperse further to other adjacent yards across the street. Activity peaked in back yard 9:10-9:20 pm and ceased by 10:00 pm. Activity in front yard tapered off as streetlight (kitty corner from yard) reached full strength at 9:20 pm, at which point it ceased. Very little activity in side yard through the observation period.
Specimen Voucher Number:
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
21:00
Last Flash Time:
21:30
First Flash Temp (F):
80
Last Flash Temp (F):
80
Flashes in Pattern:
1
Flash Color:
Yellow
Flash Pattern Period:
20
Flash Duration:
1
Flash Interval:
20
Male Height Zone:
Low (0-3 ft), Moderate (3-8 ft)
Flash Location:
Concentrated in back yard and gradually dispersing to adjacent yards and across the streets. Throughout lawn and garden areas. Fewer in front yard and more quickly dispersed. Just a few in side yard.
Male Flash Behavior:
Some taking off from taller vegetation and flashing in longer dips. Some arising from shorter lawn areas with shorter tips but also travelling somewhat more horizontally. A few traversing just above the lawn with occasional flash (more of a blink).
Female Flash Behavior:
Seemed to be one in short grass in the back yard. Longer illumination time (over one second), seemed more intense than flying flashes, but longer time between flashes (over 1 minute, up to 5 minutes). One in front yard with same pattern, but only in the first part of the observation period (9 to 9:15 pm). Ceased after that time.
