Photinus pyralis

Photo Credit: © Serena via iNaturalist.org. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.
Photinus pyralis
Common Name: Big Dipper firefly
Other Common Names: common eastern firefly
Animal Guild: Insect
Class > Order > Family: Insecta > Coleoptera > Lampyridae
Where is the species found?
States & Provinces
AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, ON, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV
Which phenophases should I observe?
Do you see/hear...?
Activity Adults
One or more adults are seen or heard moving about or at rest. For Photinus pyralis, the male flashing pattern is a single, yellow, J-shaped flash that lasts 0.6 to 0.8 seconds, and is repeated every five to seven seconds. Females respond with a single flash that lasts approximately 0.7 seconds.
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Adults feeding
One or more adults are seen feeding. If possible, record the name of the species or substance being eaten or describe it in the comments field. Firefly adults do not regularly feed, but have occasionally been seen feeding on flower nectar, especially of milkweed plants.

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Reproduction Mating
A male and female are seen coupled in a mating position, usually with the male on top of the female. Fireflies can also be seen mating end to end.

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Egg laying
A female is seen laying eggs on or below the soil surface.

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Development Dead adults
One or more dead adults are seen.

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Method Individuals at a light
One or more individuals are seen at a light, whether flying or at rest.

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Individuals in a net
One or more individuals are seen caught in a net.

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Individuals in a trap
One or more individuals are seen caught in a trap.

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What do these phenophases look like?

There is currently no photoguide available for this species. If you'd like help us create one, use the guidance document and species template provided here. Then send it via email to education@usanpn.org when it is complete.