Highlighted Species: Eastern Firefly Photinus pyralis (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)
About:
Known by names like the glowworm or lightning bug, the common eastern firefly ranges from the Rocky Mountains eastward and can be spotted on summer nights at dusk. Day-active fireflies may rely on pheromones to attract a mate, but the eastern firefly will be out at twilight using bioluminescence to communicate. A special chemical reaction occurs between Luciferin, Luciferase, and oxygen, most likely modulating the patterns by controlling the amount of oxygen.
The male firefly performs a courtship consisting of specific movements and patterns meant to catch the eye of a female. Each species of firefly has a specific pattern of flashes, illuminated from their abdomen. For Photinus pyralis, the pattern creates a visual “J” shape– leading to another nickname of theirs, the Big-Dipper. The male must fly at the right height making the correct pattern for the females resting on grass and vegetation. If she accepts his efforts, she will signal back with a flash.
Design Notes:
This design represents the characteristic pronotum, or “hood-like” structure on the upper part of the thorax. The pronotum is part of the thorax and extends over the head. While on a firefly the abdomen is the part that glows, not the pronotum, in the spirit of fun I added a glowing element to this design.
Resources:
“About Fireflies.” (2024) Xerces Society.
https://www.xerces.org/endangered-species/fireflies/about
Ford, D’Lyn. (23 July, 2019). “How Fireflies Glow – and
What Signals They’re Sending.” NC State University.
https://news.ncsu.edu/2019/07/how-fireflies-glow-and-what-signals-theyre-sending/
Maryland Biodiversity Project (2024). “Eastern Firefly
Photinus pyralis (Linnaeus, 1767)” Maryland
Biodiversity.
https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/view/10279
“Types of Fireflies.” (2024). Firefly Conservation and
Research.
https://www.firefly.org/types-of-fireflies.html
