Observation: Pyractomena dispersa
Primary Observer:
Anna Walker
Event Date:
2023-06-16
Status:
Verified
Survey
Site Name:
Alpine Divide Campground
Province/State:
Arizona
Event Date:
2023-06-16
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
19:44
End Time:
21:30
Number of Observers:
2
Primary Observer:
Anna Walker
Additional Observers:
Raphael Sarfati
Target Species Genus:
Pyractomena
Target Species Species:
dispersa
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
0-25
Habitat Type:
Open Freshwater Wetland - Wetland Bog, fen, freshwater marsh
Habitat Type Notes:
This marshy area is adjacent to a healthy ponderosa pine forest. The marsh forms in the low areas where water drains from small spring fed drainages that run through the forest. Suitable habitat is fairly widespread in the area. It has been a wet winter and cold spring, and the snow melted late this year, according to some locals I talked to. Everything is very green and there appears to be a lot of water. Vegetation in the marsh includes unknown grasses, ferns, and possibly willow. I did not see any cattails in the marshy meadow.
Elevation (meters):
2570
Area Searched (hectares):
360
Artificial Light Sources
Vehicles: Yes
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): 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:
Very little light pollution except the headlights of an occasional car driving by on highway 150m away.
Observation
Observation Type:
Flashing
Number Observed:
11-50
Genus:
Pyractomena
Species:
dispersa
Observation Notes:
Male is long and narrow, about 11mm long. Only caught one. All flashing seen on vegetation. No more than 20 individuals seen along 200 m stretch of marshy meadow.
Specimen Voucher Number:
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
20:10
Last Flash Time:
20:56
First Flash Temp (F):
65
Last Flash Temp (F):
49
Flashes in Pattern:
3
Flash Color:
Yellow
Flash Pattern Period:
2
Flash Duration:
.25-.05
Flash Interval:
.25-.5
Male Height Zone:
Low (0-3 ft)
Flash Location:
Flashes are in marshy/grassy sections of wet meadow/drainage. No flying while flashing. I may have been too cold.
Male Flash Behavior:
Did not observe proper flash pattern because individuals were only flashing from grassy vegetation. Flashes were consistently either three or four flashes in fairly quick succession, then firefly would go quiet for quite some time. Often there seemed to be a slightly longer interval between the second and third flash, compared to the first and second flash. Did not manage to capture recording.
Female Flash Behavior:
Not observed.
