Smokies synchronous firefly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Smokies synchronous firefly |
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Photinus
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| Species: |
carolinus
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The Photinus carolinus, also known as the Smokies synchronous firefly, is a special type of rover firefly. These amazing insects are famous for their synchronized light shows. During their mating season, male and female fireflies flash together. This creates beautiful waves of light and darkness across the landscape.
You can usually see these firefly displays in early June. They happen near Elkmont, Tennessee, which is inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This park is close to Gatlinburg. These fireflies live in small, separate groups in the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States.
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What Does the Smokies Synchronous Firefly Look Like?
The P. carolinus is a medium-sized beetle. Adult fireflies are about 11 to 15 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long. They have dark wing covers, which are called elytra. These wing covers have light-colored edges. Their head shield, called a pronotum, is pale yellow. It has a dark rectangle in the middle and thin black lines on the sides.
Male fireflies have light organs, or "lanterns," on two parts of their belly. Females have one lantern on their belly. The rest of their body is dark.
Where Does the Name Photinus Carolinus Come From?
The name Photinus comes from a Greek word. It means "shining" or "bright." The second part of the name, carolinus, refers to North Carolina. This is where scientists first discovered this type of firefly.
Life Cycle of the Firefly
Like all beetles, P. carolinus fireflies go through four stages in their life. These stages are egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
Fireflies spend most of their lives as larvae. These larvae can glow in the dark, which is called bioluminescent. They likely live underground. Larvae eat small creatures like snails, worms, and other soft-bodied bugs. Adult fireflies appear in early summer, usually from late May to June.
How Do These Fireflies Behave?
Photinus fireflies are known as "lightning-bug fireflies." This means they make light when they are adults and can fly. Both male and female adults use a special light organ on their belly to create mating signals.
These fireflies are also called "rover fireflies." This is because the males usually fly alone. They flash a special pattern that only their species uses. If a female is ready to mate, she will flash back with her own unique signal.
Synchronized Flashing: A Special Light Show
The P. carolinus was the first firefly species in North America found to flash all together. In places like South Asia, many male fireflies gather on trees. They flash at the same time, creating a very bright display.
The P. carolinus males also flash together, but they do it while flying in groups. The timing of their flashes can change a little depending on the temperature. A male P. carolinus usually flashes four to eight very bright times. This takes about two to four seconds. Then, there is a dark period of eight to 12 seconds. The female's reply is not as bright. It is a short flash during the male's dark period.
Scientists think that flashing together helps the males. It creates a synchronized dark period. During this dark time, males can look for female responses without being confused by other males' signals.
Where Do Smokies Synchronous Fireflies Live?
In the southern parts of their home range, P. carolinus fireflies usually live in old hardwood forests. These forests are often 65 years old or more. They are found in mountain river valleys. These areas are usually at elevations from 1,400 to 6,000 feet (427 to 1,829 meters).
In Pennsylvania and New York, these fireflies live at lower elevations. They are found from 1,000 to 2,000 feet (305 to 610 meters) high.
Where Can You Find These Fireflies?
P. carolinus fireflies live in small, separate areas across the Appalachian Mountains. You can find them in northern Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. One of their most famous small groups lives in Elkmont, Tennessee.
They are also found in other parts of the Smoky Mountains. They usually live at elevations near 2,000 feet (610 meters). They have been seen as far north as Pennsylvania.
Visiting the Firefly Display
More and more people visit a special trail near Elkmont each year to see these fireflies. Scientists use a special model to try to guess when the best time to see the fireflies will be each year.
During the two-week mating season for P. carolinus, driving and parking near Great Smoky Mountains National Park are carefully controlled. Visitors must park at the Sugarlands Visitor Center. From there, they wait for a trolley to take them to the viewing spot. On weekends, you might have to wait up to four hours for a ride! In early June 2011, the firefly display near Elkmont attracted over a thousand visitors every night.
Images for kids
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Photinus Carolinus fireflies in Pennsylvania, 2013
