Observation: Photuris quadrifulgens
Primary Observer:
Rosalind Reilly
Event Date:
2024-05-13
Status:
Unverified
Survey
Site Name:
Powhatan State Park-River Launch x State Park Rd
Province/State:
Virginia
Event Date:
2024-05-13
Time of Day:
Night-Time
Start Time:
20:16
End Time:
21:40
Number of Observers:
1
Primary Observer:
Rosalind Reilly
Additional Observers:
NA
Target Species Genus:
Photuris
Target Species Species:
versicolor
Location and Habitat
Location Accuracy (meters):
25-50
Habitat Type:
Grassland/Meadow - Meadow, open, grasses dominant
Habitat Type Notes:
Grasses, goldenrod (not in bloom), blackberry (in bloom)
Elevation (meters):
288
Area Searched (hectares):
2.5
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): 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:
Undeveloped park land. Only 5-6 cars passed in the hour I was there. No other lighting. I did not observe sky glow, but there probably was some.
Observation
Observation Type:
Flashing
Number Observed:
50+
Genus:
Photuris
Species:
quadrifulgens
Observation Notes:
Specimen Voucher Number:
Flash Behavior
First Flash Time:
08:30
Last Flash Time:
21:35
First Flash Temp (F):
63
Last Flash Temp (F):
60
Flashes in Pattern:
2
Flash Color:
Yellow
Flash Pattern Period:
6
Flash Duration:
.5
Flash Interval:
1
Male Height Zone:
Moderate (3-8 ft)
Flash Location:
Mostly low over a meadow, though a few were flashing in trees all the way to the top and at the edge of the woods.
Male Flash Behavior:
I observed 4 different flash patterns, and caught at least one of each, but they were all the same specie.
The images are of the first fireflies I observed, which were all flashing in sets of 2 flashes separated by 4 seconds.
Next I began to see sets of 3 flashes, with 4-5 seconds of dark.
Next I began to see flicker flashes (what Faust calls "Cinco de Mayo flicker") and also sets of 4 flashes with 4-5 seconds of darkness. I was sure I was surrounded by multiple species! But they all look the same in the photos: pronotum with a black arrow sitting on a horizontal base, surrounded by reddish blob. Almost all of the photos I took show shoulder stripes (vittae).
Female Flash Behavior:
3 thoughts on “Observation: Photuris quadrifulgens”
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Thanks for submitting this survey and observation data!
I have changed the species to Photuris quadrifulgens, because it seems to be a best fit in terms of the habitat, time of year, and flash patterns observed.
Check out page 280 in Lloyd 2018. You can see that Lloyd experienced a similar situation to you in Appomattox County decades ago, with a combination of flash patterns from what appeared to be the same species.
Also, I added a negative sign to the longitude value, because your survey was being mapped in western China.
Thanks again for this data submission!
Thanks for checking out my post! Lloyd’s discussion is interesting. Faust calls quadrifulgens a var. of versicolor and addresses the issue of multiple flash patterns on p. 255-56, noting that they will flash in a series of 2 to 5 flashes, with “some early warm-up flashing, often as 2-pulse flash-trains” soon after sunset, with longer trains later, and the flicker being less common and “most often seen during peak season, later at night, and only low over open fields.” She also notes that males can switch back and forth between typical flash trains and the flicker! I am just learning and based my ID solely on her book.
And thanks for fixing the longitude!
Rosalind
I can post photos of individuals that flashed 3, 4, and flicker if requested.