Fireflyer Companion & Letter

Vol. 1, Number 1 Winter 1993-94

Fireflyer. firefly + er. n. short for firefly Where are the Lightningbugs? chaser. A person who thinks about lightningbugs.

Last fall the The Wall Street Journal (2 Sep 93) ran a front page article express- ing concern that fireflies may be disappearing. Several activities of humans were mentioned as possibly being connected. I suspect that many of the species that I used to see and census here in Alachua County may no longer be present. There is reason for attention if not concern. In the past decade herpetologists have noted an apparent world-wide decrease in the number of frogs, and even held a confer- ence to discuss it. Among questions for us to ask: is the absence of fireflies appar- ent or real?, is it local or general?, is it a natural phenomenon that could have serious consequences, given the humanization of the firefly world?, are there hard data available, or can we get some and how?, if fireflies are actually on the decline can we do anything about it?, and, is there something we can be doing before we know for sure? I have gotten several letters and phone calls asking about this, and have made this the opportunity to start a firefly-letter a little earlier than I had planned. I can pass along some of my thoughts and perhaps get readers to do Dark summer. some thinking and looking too. A line from a recent letter is a start and a title

What can I do affirmative being expected, whether the And, how can one estimate the acre- fireflies have been poisoned by pesticides. age and diversity of habitats that have to help? When I say that there is no direct informa- been built upon, paved over, and put into tion available on the matter, I sometimes agriculture production. It runs into the mil- Alysse & Daniel get the feeling that my answer may be sus- lions. Remember, Thomas Barbour ex- Leesburg FL pect because of my known connection pressed his concern over Florida and a with Entomology. Vanishing Eden decades before the Dear Alysse and Dan, There are a number of reasons why we booms since World War II. Yours is a good, and embarrassing may not be seeing fireflies so often nowa- Consider too, there is more stray light question. I should have been thinking on days. Ever more of us live in urbanized ar- from street- and yard-lights, and city-light it a long time ago. First I’ll warm up to it eas where there are fewer undisturbed reflections from clouds, that shine in little with some preliminary cogitations, that I grasslands and creek sides; where there eyes. These are pollution to lightningbugs will do here, out loud. Maybe these will give are more streetlights, where more twi- trying to find mates with wee little biolu- you some ideas and you will send them lights are unseen while we watch minescent lanterns in their tails! in. We need observations, ideas, and di- TV-news, and seldom if at all do we sit on Another way that human population rection. the porch reading the newspaper by fad- growth and “progress” has mal-affected ing skylight and watching playing children; fireflies, at distances even greater than the Lightningbugs play a special role in and where there are fewer safe parks and reach of sky-light, has to do with available childhood and its memories. They are a known neighbors. ground water. The level of water-tables part of the personal Currier and Ives Days Even suburbs have had their soils has dropped in many areas because of the of millions of Americans. They are as shoved around, mixed, and structurally amount of water that is pumped from popular as dinosaurs, without benefit of damaged, and made less hospitable for wells. Lowered tables mean loss of habi- Hollywood animations and hype. They lin- earthworms and other firefly prey. And yes, tats—marshes and wet areas around ger in fond recollections, in vivid images where there might have once occurred ponds and streams, the last themselves of chasing them over the lawn just before fireflies, more herbicides and pesticides dependent on water reaching the surface, bedtime when deepening shadows grew have been used to encourage sterile mo- naturally. menacingly at lawn edges. Strangers have nocultures of socially approved vegetation. There is also a focused attack on fire- told me of their personal experiences with I have noted to questioners that it is rea- flies. Tens of millions of them have been Mason and mayonnaise jars and flashes sonable to expect that contaminants from collected over the years for the on their bedstands. various sources, in the water, air, and soil light-emitting chemicals that they have in I am asked, by writers, reporters, teach- that are known to kill other things, certainly ers, and mothers, with an answer in the kill fireflies and their prey too. Continued on page 2, see Save Save, continued from page 1 at specimens that were collected on these rivers back then, for there are specimens Twinkle Twinkle their tails, especially the emission-facili- Half Moon on the horizon tating enzymes generically known as lu- in collections from that long ago. seen through green colored glasses ciferase. These chemicals are used in ba- Insect collections also used to routinely It is time for her to hunt sic research, for illuminating points of ac- “archive” old men with squinting, lens-as- earthbound stars by their flashes. tivity on chromosomes and potentially for sisted eyes, smelly clothes, and bow ties Constellations like Big Dipper looking for life in Space, in medical and (long an outdated curiosity, but bows seemingly simple; really complex. agricultural research, and for disease di- didn’t drape into trays and break speci- mens), that took the welfare of their well- Shining toward earth, agnosis. they’re searching for sex. Of course, the collectors probably curated charges very seriously, and that mostly net common, widely-occurring and worked overtime for life, for nothing, for Cryptic signals are given likely “renewable” grassland species, such love. They were the unsung treasures of from ground toward heaven and back. as the Big Dipper Firefly (Photinus pyralis) research museums, but they too are nearly Timing is everything, and various common Photuris species extinct and few are being cultivated today. for the codes she must crack. [see sl article]. But, undoubtedly rare and I know an elderly insect taxonomist who He flashes for answers to uncommon species are taken, local popu- has even spent most of his home life bent Who? What? and Why? lations certainly have been eradicated, and over his personal microscope studying his She gives patterns of deceit; rare and new (emerging) species have flies. In World War II he was a medical just a twinkle in his eye. entomologist in the tropical Pacific with been wiped out. Mass collectors, children Closer (flicker), the U.S. Army. His wife has said that when and adults alike will not discriminate rare closer (flash), closer still. species, and pecuniary fixation will dis- he dies she will have him stuffed (curated This siren’s light beckons him place other and abstract concerns. by a taxidermist) sitting there at his scope, against his will. A newspaper story a couple of years ago and then she can always see him and not quoted a firefly-tail-collecting mother who notice any difference. He throws caution to the wind and approaches too fast. said something to the effect that every time Such insect taxonomists know and re- spect the past, labor long, personally and The conflict is over, she saw a firefly’s flash she saw a penny. he’s now her repast. [tf] In contrast, another mother sent me a intently in the present, and prepare for a poem that her mother had written about future they won’t see but hope will be fireflies for her daughter. (When I find there, by maintaining and improving col- What was the first scientific name used for a these two filed references I will give more lections, and helping anyone who comes firefly? Taxonomic literature now in use indicates detail.) along that shows an interest. Sometimes that Linnaeus first named fireflies in his Systema age and destroyed collecting sites make Naturae, 12th Edition (1767). Among them was The foregoing introduction warms us up what is now Photinus pyralis. Even he overlooked to addressing the key questions. It reminds them become cynical, and as sour as they his first names. In his 10th Edition (1758), he us that lifestyles have changed, says that sometime smell. More and more they named several fireflies, including pyralis, in the there are reasons to be suspicious that fire- must feel as though they will become (ob- soldier beetle genus Cantharis. Because Zoologi- flies are at risk, and that their enemies “is jective) paleontologists - considering that cal Nomenclature officially starts with the 10th the instant an insect becomes extinct in Edition, Cantharis pyralis, Cantharis (now us.” Lampris) noctiluca, Cantharis (now Luciola) Now, what data would it take to satisfy nature, specimens of it in museums be- lusitanica and a few others, were the first now- skeptics and fence-sitters? Where could come fossils, and perhaps should be officially named species. An earlier non-accept- we find the evidence that is needed? Can placed with those in amber and rocks? able name used by Waller in 1685 was Cicindella we only now begin to gather it? Are there But, perhaps I digress? volans —the generic name now being used for Thus, one source of information on our tiger beetles. Waller’s volans was Linnaeus’ no old records that will give tentative but Cantharis — and then Lampyris noctiluca. Based better answers than the circumstantial firefly question is in these museum ar- on this information answer this question: “What notions that I started with? chives: on the labels and in bodies of the nomenclatural change must be now made to the insects, and in the letters and papers of the scientific name of the European glowworm L. Museum Answers solitary curators. What specifically is in noctiluca Linnaeus?” Why? [jl&lb] Insect collections in museums and the such records depends upon the individual people who care for them are not the taxonomists who observed and collected Fireflyer Companion anachronisms that many people (includ- Specimens, who exchanged information, J.E. Lloyd, (Ed.) Gainesville, FL ing some politicians and university admini- wrote insect labels, and especially those Lesley Ballantyne, Wagga Wagga, NSW strators) think. They are the archives, the who focused their attention on their own Austrailia repositories of stored information of con- personal favorite group of insects, and how Timothy Forrest, Ithaca, NY ditions, ecologies, places, and summers much time and effort have been put into John Sivinski, Gainesville, FL past. Were atmospheric poisons killing off proper curating since the collectors had Steve Wing, Gainesville, FL our insects A) years ago? - look inside the to leave them in a museum’s care. (I re- Production: carcasses of faded and brittle museum member once seeing insect cabinets filled Flora MacColl, Gainesville, FL firefly specimens. Are tests for pesticide with Parliament cigarette boxes contain- ing crane fly specimens, the love-labor of Mailing Address: residues only positive for specimens col- Fireflies lected after the pesticide was used? Test a deceased dipterist (student of flies). I sus- University of Florida specimens that were deposited long ago, pect they are still waiting for someone to Department of Entomology with their carefully prepared labels. Were pick up where death took this enthusiast POB 110620 insect inhabitants of pure water only, from his adventure.) Gainesville, FL 32611 First among the firefly records that are present in the Potomac, Shenandoah, and WWW Address: Susquehanna 50, 80, 110 years ago? Look Continued on page 5, see Save http://gnv.ifas.ufl.edu/~jlloyd/ffcomp.htm

2 Fireflyer Companion Vol. 1, Number 1 Winter 1993-94 Fireflies at Risk pupate near the surface and emerge as recombinant firefly luciferase (pro- adults about two weeks later, possibly duced by bacteria in the lab) is now When was the last time you saw a within a few meters of where they were commercially available. This recombi- firefly? The last time we saw these flash- first deposited as eggs. Since adult nant luciferase provides a purer form of ing beetles, many of us were probably Photinus fireflies are not strong fliers, the enzyme for research purposes, children. We all remember the fascina- adult dispersal distances are probably eliminating the need to collect and pro- tion we felt as we watched these tiny limited. These aspects of Photinus fire- cess huge numbers of wild fireflies to cordless lights on wings. We ran around fly biology indicate that once a breeding obtain this enzyme. the fields in a frenzy trying to capture as population is disturbed, relocation (“mi- We can preserve the magic of sum- many as we could, collecting them in gration’~ to nearby undisturbed sites of mer nights filled with flying beacons of jars for later examination. After a night similar habitat-form may be unlikely. light. People who care about keeping or two on a bedside table, the captives fireflies around should let Sigma and Firefly Hunting. Another potential would be set free. Despite a few ca- others know that the unnecessary har- cause of declining firefly populations is sualties, our childhood fireflies returned vesting of these beetles should be that fireflies are still being year after year to continue their dazzling stopped. You can write to: Mr. Tom Cori, mass-harvested from wild populations. displays. Chief Executive Officer, Sigma-Aldnich For about 30 years, Sigma Chemical Corporastion, 3050 Spruce St., St. Louis, Where have all the fireflies gone? Company of St. Louis, Missouri, has been Missouri 63103, or call Sigma technical There has been a lot of concern recently harvesting live fireflies as a source of lu- service at 1-800-325-5832. Let them about an apparent decline in the num- ciferase. Luciferasc, an enzyme pro- know that you think they should stop ber of fireflies. Despite lack of long-term duced by fireflies and other luminescent harvesting live fireflies. Let’s keep fire- ecological studies documenting popula- creatures, is widely used to assay ATP flies in the air, flying and flashing. tion trends for any single firefly species, (adenosine triphosphate) levels in cells. [Jeff Monchamp and sl] there is widespread perception that fire- Sigma Chemical sponsors an organiza- fly numbers may be decreasing. There tion called the Sigma Firefly Scientists are several possible reasons for decline Club, which pays amateur collectors a in firefly numbers, including habitat de- penny for each firefly captured from the struction, pesticide use, and collecting wild, regardless of species. After pro- pressure. Several aspects of firefly biol- cessing, Sigma sells these beetles as ogy may make them particularly suscep- Desiccate Whole Fireflies ($12.80 per tible to habitat desctruction, including gram), or as one of several processed the fact that most species of firefly are firefly products, such as Luciferasc Pow- quite habiLat-specific. Particular species der ($41.84 per milligram). arc associated with specific habitats Several millions of fireflies have been such as wetlands, forests, and old fields. collected for Sigma from the Midwest As these habitats recede in the face of and eastern United States over the years, suburban development, appropriate fire- although Sigma will not give an exact fly habitat is reduced. Many firefly spe- number. One proud collector, described cies are also extremely site-specific, as the “Lightning Bug Lady” of Vinton, flashing and mating in the same locality Iowa in a recent article in the Wall Street Because the kids glow for no obvious over many years. For example, we have Journal, catches and sells as many as a reason humans think we must not light been studying the reproductive ecology million fireflies to Sigma each year. Fire- up for sex! of a population of Photinus marginellus fly collectors generally catch anything fireflies in eastern Massachusetts for the that flashes in the night, and Sigma past Mine years. Each year, the local indiscriminately processes all fireflies, Twice when I was growing up I came breeding population of this species is without distinguishing common or rare across an unusual sort of light- restricted to a small grove of cherry species. While mass-harvesting may not ningbug. They had green flashing trees, and their complete life cycle ap- be a problem for some of the more com- lights, prominent eyes, and fat hairy pears to be carried out underneath these mon firefly species, this level of harvest- bodies. They looked like bees with flashing lights on the ends of their ab- trees. Photinus species devote most of ing sustained over a few years may eas- domens. Do you know of any such their adult lives searching for mates, and ily wipe out Populations of many less lightning bug? both males and females mate repeat- common firefly species. Thus, amateur Joseph, edly over their 1-2 week lifespan collectors sponsored by Sigma may in- Pittsburgh, PA (adultspan). Between mating, adult fe- advertently be driving breeding popula- males lay their eggs at the bases of tions of many firefly species to local ex- Dear Joseph, grasses. Photinus larvae are subterra- tinction. I am stumped. I have never seen nor nean, and probably do not travel far Hope for Fireflies. There is hope for heard of such a one. A fuzzy beetle, to fireflies, however, because luciferase say nothing of it having a light too, would afield during the two years they spend be a special treat. Next time I am near below the soil surface feeding on earth- harvesting from wild fireflies is no longer the sw Penn border I shall keep my eyes worms and possibly other softbodied necessary. Several years ago scientists open! [jl] invertebrates. In the spring, the larvae cloned the gene for firefly luciferase, and

Vol. 1, Number 1 Winter 1993-94 Fireflyer Companion 3 Other Fires — Other Flies The Luminescence of Fireflies — Not I. Introducing Phengodid Glowworms

Millions of insects live in darkness. They memorable as the insect itself. I recall one mans? It is not much easier to follow the lurk beneath bark and fallen leaves, under- stormy Florida night when a flashlight shone natural lives of insects under an inch of soil ground and under refrigerators. In large part into a flood water caused it to boil with than it is to watch the doings of abyssal they do so to avoid reflecting light and being leeches, and flashlights pointed up illumi- shrimp under a mile of seawater. But no seen. The American cockroach is a too-fa- nated treetrunks plastered with thousands observation platform can dive submarine- miliar example. The long antennae and flat- of earthworms. They were climbing to es- like beneath a willow thicket! tened body mark it as an animal that gets cape drowning in the soaking mud and were Phengodid are representative of another along by its senses of touch and smell while joined by other luckless subterrainean crea- puzzling phenomenon, that of female living under something in the gloom. A hid- tures. Here and there marooned on humps neotony, the continuance of the larval body den life for so small and fragile a creature of ground, pale rare firefly larvae glimmered. plan into adulthood. Like Peter Pan, female makes sense. To venture out only at night, phengodids appear never to grow up. Their to be invisible, is protection against the ap- reproductive organs mature, but they main- petites that relish cockroaches and other tain their “childhood” forms and grow only sheltering creepers. larger — quite a bit larger compared to their Therefore, it is interesting when a boldly males. While the female design is for a wing- colored insect, such as a butterfly, appears less exterior, decked with lights and to be designed to be seen. We must assume stretched over a stuffing of eggs, the male that this self-advertising is due to something juvenile completes his metamorphosis very important in the life of the advertiser. (transformation) into a specialized and un- Luminescent insects are the ultimate in the usual adult beetle. He bears short wing-cov- obvious. Far from trying to avoid reflecting ers (elytra, el’-ih-truh), and his large, feath- light, they actually emit it! By breaching the ery antennae wave over a pair of sharp, night they become the most conspicuous of sickle-shaped jaws (mandibles). In his short, things, lights in darkness. First, we wonder wild life, he is designed to find females, kill at their beauty and then we wonder why it sexual rivals, and mount huge glowing should exist. mates. He will not feed, other than to sip Beauty is an opinion. But for me, of all the moisture from leaves, and he dies a few days lovely shining things, the glowworms of the after growing up. family Phengodidae are the most marvelous. Before looking into one explanation for the These glowworms are actually the juveniles phengodid peculiarity of subterrainean light, and adult females of a beetle and relatives let me introduce our North American of the fireflies. They are long cylindrical crea- phengodid fauna. [js] tures, small-headed, with a sleek, occasion- A male Phengodes nigromaculata, attracted (to be continued) ally plump appearance. Phengodid glow- by a perfume (pheromone) and flying above worms are not often encountered. A pioneer an adult female would see this patern of of bioluminescence studies, Princeton pro- “landing strip” lights upon her back and sides. fessor E. Newton Harvey, noted that he had seen only four living specimens of North A luminous centipede, captured in a cranny American species in twenty-five years. Very by a larger relative, flashed a bright white rarely someone locates a concentration of light in its death struggle. And the greatest them. A friend [sw] once discovered a de- cause for celebration were two phengodid pression in a meadow that held dozens of glowworms found huddled on stumps. young larvae crawling among the blades of The flood, by forcing up the luminous un- grass. Another [jl] came across a species in derworld, revealed the surprising fact that we the jungles of Colombia that was in the un- tread over sunken constellations scattered usual “habitat” of tree branches. But, most through the earth. While phengodids are the phengodid glowworms spend most of their most spectacular, other glowing organisms time under stones, under fallen trees (logs), live underfoot. Besides the centipedes and or underground. If you wish to see a firefly larvae, there are luminous springtails phengodid you must put considerable trust (insectan Order Collembola), click beetle in luck or put considerable effort into the larvae (family Elateridae), millipedes, and search (a California naturalist, the late Dar- earthworms, all that spend at least part of win Tiemann, once dug for 50 hours to find their lives buried underground or in rotting a single larva of the Western Banded Glow- wood. worm, Zarhipus integripennis). The effort is Why do phengodids and these others Science fiction titles “Jurassic Sex” or rewarded once the insect is in hand, for shine in a solid, totally non-transparent envi- “Attraction By a 50-Foot Female” might these often huge (up to 70 mm) animals are ronment? It seems at first to be like trying to capture the flavor of love in phengodid speckled and striped with a score or more shout in a vacuum. The difficulty in answer- beetles. Males fight to the death (c) for a of soft green lights, its movements traced in ing such a question is compounded by the chance to mate with enormously larger rippling light. difficulty of making observations in nature. females (b). Drawing by John Randall from Looking for phengodids can be almost as What habitat could be less available to hu- a book published by Academic Press.

4 Fireflyer Companion Vol. 1, Number 1 Winter 1993-94 Save, continued from page 2 initial considerations being shared, I shall available, are the places and dates that fire- use the “Venitian” typeface for key words, flies have occurred. The map of the geo- Venice the city being an Italian city of light graphic distribution of Photinus pyralis that in 14th Century European Renaissance): appears on page 9 uses data from the la- The initial increase of records, is due to an bels of over a 1000 museum specimens increase in entomological interest — that I have examined, from more than a check the records, publications of the New dozen university and other collections. York and the Brooklyn Ent Societies, and Such maps can now be constructed for State lists for New Jersey and New York. many of the roughly 180 species in the The subsequent decrease is due to in- United States. Such a map, based on all creased loss of wet- and woodland habi- specimens deposited since the late 1800s tat and/or decrease in entomological inter- is a summary, a composite. The base data est (but pyralis records increase?) —check are stored in a computer, and can be dis- specimen records for adjacent rural areas, sected, to see, for example, whether some collection records for other insect species, localities have no recent representation. Graph 2. Same data-base as in Graph 1, but and contemporary publications for wan- This could mean that the species no longer Big Dipper records have been graphed ing entomological interest and for studies, occurs in some regions. Also, the relative separately because the ecology of this discussion, and alarm, apropos of habitat number of specimens in museums can apparent “weed species” is conspicuously loss. sometimes give a clue to the abundance different. The firefly history of the area is There was a sudden appearance of of a species. probably very complex and may never be pyralis records, after more than a half Consider the region around New York understood (see text). century of now (post facto) not- City (Map at right). No one would disagree that much of the area has been altered greatly during the past century, and that there are fewer available firefly sites than there were in 1880. The graph below (Graph 1) shows the decade of collection for the 125 specimens of eight species that I found in museum collections. Seven of the species are found in wood- lands or wetlands. The other species, the Big Dipper Firefly, is an inhabitant of grass- land and ecologically disturbed areas, and is commonly found around human habi- tations (see article on page 9). A century ago Charles Knipp* observed that pyralis moved into areas in nw Ohio when virgin forest was cut. One would expect that pyralis records from the NYC area might differ from those of other species, and indeed they do (Graph 2). When pyralis records are separated it Map 1. A map of the New York City area with the sampled counties in New Jersey and New appears that this species may not have York shaded. Manhattan (NYC) is the north-south elongate darker-shaded island in the been present in the region until the 1940s Hudson River, dividing the shaded areas. Long Island (NY) is east-west in the center, and *Science 1939, 89:386. Connecticut is north across L. I. Sound. and since then, like others (?), it has gradu- ably-conspicuous absence — the distribu- ally decreased in numbers, or disapeared. tion map (page 9) shows that the NYC area Now the real detective work begins. We is at the northern limit of pyralis’ geo- need hypotheses to test, and to formulate graphic distribution. —Could we be see- them we first need working (preliminary) ing the effects of changes in two ecological el- interpretations, speculations, and predic- ements, habitat and climate? —Could tions. As examples, observe the changes pyralis gradually have moved northward in firefly specimen records: (1) an initial into the region with the increased availabil- increase (1880-1910), (2) followed by a ity of suitable habitat after (2) the regional cli- long-continued decrease in specimens of mate had moderated with winter warming wet- and woodland species, (3) the ap- from heating by houses, factories, steam pearance of pyralis’ specimens for the vents, etc)? 1940s — recall that this is a firefly that uti- The “terminal” decrease in numbers of Graph 1. Museum holdings of 8 species from lizes man’s lawns, parks, and meadows, all species could be from continuing and 16 NJ and NY counties in the NYC area and, (4) after a peak of 1950s records, a extensive habitat destruction, and a grow- (shaded in the map). By taking into account decreasing number of pyralis records. ing lack of interest in insects, and an in- differences in the ecology of the species more Speculations? (to remind the reader can be learned. See Graph 2 and text. when statements are not conclusions, but Continued on page 10, see Save

Vol. 1, Number 1 Winter 1993-94 Fireflyer Companion 5 What are the glowing lar vae just be- Roadside Attractions neath the surface of a small nearby lake? A forum for fireflyers Gunther, Kalamazoo MI Suppose your mission was to design ter sunset as the twilight fades, until an an insect that could easily be found. You hour or two after sunset is a good time Dear Gunther, might make a large insect with brightly to find many different species. Some are I believe your lights were those of fire- colored, flapping wings, like a butterfly, active all night long, while other species fly larvae. Larvae of some Pyractomena that would be conspicuous in daylight. are active for only a few minutes each species are semiaquatic and go under- But for the nighttime, could you imag- night. water to hunt snails. Note whether there ine anything easier to see than You are more likely to find fireflies dur- are flying, flashing adults (males) over a flashing firefly? You ing the warmer months of the year, dur- the adjacent shore of this lake in early might try de- ing spring, summer, and fall. Exactly June. If they emit 4-6 rapid, yellow pulses signing an in- which species you can find will change each 3-4 sec (ca 15°C) they are Py. dis- sect that from month to month. Adults of some persa; if a 0.3-0.4 sec yellow flare, they makes loud species are active during only a few sounds so weeks each year, while other species are Py. linearis; if an amber flicker of 8- that you may be found month after month. In 12 rapid pulses (too fast to count) they could some warm climates, fireflies can be are Py. angulata; and if a dim glow of 3- locate found year round. Where the winters are 10 sec with the OFF between glows of a it in the cold, though, your best bets are the similar duration, they are Py. sinuata. Of dark. But if you have ever tried to pin- warmer months. During their cold “off” course you could have something that is point the location of a cricket or katydid seasons nearly all live as larvae in dead unknown— Michigan’s LP has some spe- by its chirps or trill, you know it isn’t easy. logs, the earth, or in leaf litter. cial features, perhaps due to its isolation, Their sounds disclose their vicinity, but When you are at a location looking for being open only to the south now, with the exact location is often difficult to find. fireflies, be sure to look in all the differ- this door having opened after a postgla- You might want to make a large, light col- ent levels of vegetation. Different species cial prairie barrier(?). [jl] ored insect. It would show up in moon- of fireflies may be seen in different parts light; but that light would be from an- of the same habitat. Some fly close to Where can I find some general in- other source, reflected from your insect. the ground, while others fly above the formation on fireflies? The firefly makes its own light. That treetops, and others fly in between. means that the firefly flashes with or Finding fireflies is easy, and the advice John, Ames IA without a moon. And each flash shows above can make it even easier! Please Dear John, you exactly where the firefly is at that mo- share your tips and experiences. Send There have been no recent books on ment. these, and your questions to the Fireflyer. Where should you look for fireflies? [sw] fireflies, other than those for juveniles, Your own back yard might be the first some of which we will list in the next is- place to try, even if you live in a city. More sue. Your best bet, if you have access to often, though, a drive in the country is a pretty good library, is to look up some the way to find places where fireflies live. of the reviews and others listed below. Always take every precaution for your One and 5 give references on various own safety, of course. It is helpful to have I never saw a flashing bee, topics. If your library does not have the two people, one to drive and one to nor anyone who’d seen one; ones you need, drop me a line and I can watch. Peaceful roads without heavy I wonder if their honey glows? send you thermocopies. [jl] traffic offer fewer distractions, and driv- I’d flash myself to tree one! ing slowly makes it easier to spot the 1. Annual Review of Entomology, vols for flashes. Often fireflies can be found right [jl] 1971 and 1983, Annu. Reviews, Inc. beside the road, which is very conve- 2. Chapter 8 [in] How Animals Communi- nient for collecting and making obser- cate, 1978, Thomas Sebeok, Ed., Indiana vations. Roads cut through various habi- University Press. tats including forests, fields, and 3. Chapter 8 [in] Sexual Selection and marshes, and run beside lakes and Reproductive Competition in Insects, beaches. Bridges cross creeks and riv- 1979, M. & A. Blum, Eds. Academic Press. ers. So, from a car you can check many 4. 1984 Yearbook of Science and the Future different kinds of places easily. Fireflies Ency. Britt., Inc. pages 188-201. might be found in or near any of these 5. Insect Bioluminescence [in] Biolumines- habitats. cence in Action, 1978, P. Herring, Ed., The best time of day to look for fire- Academic Press. flies is almost always in the dark. (We’ll “just because we glow a little, one should 6. Mimicry in the Sexual Signals of Fireflies, consider exceptions in a later issue.) Af- not presume we are sexually active!” Scientific American. 1981, 245:138-145.

6 Fireflyer Companion Vol. 1, Number 1 Winter 1993-94 run.” You’ll see why this certainly is true uriless we hold special searches, and r for fireflies, later. classes to train them in what they know Firefly Tails^ Males flash at clumps of tall dark weeds, they need and ask for and then learn to with Bean which are like black holes in space warps leave them alone. that seem to attract more than their share From a little distance the Lone Hemlock We leave the truck pulled off the road in of hexapod pulsars. But these holes don’t Flasher looks to be one of the little twi- a solitary campsite clearing, and walk capture and swallow their prey, and turn light Photinus species, and here in west- down the hill the last 200 feet to the bridge, them into anti-fireflies. Would a firefly on ern Maryland that would probably be and a very cold stream called Lone Hem- the other side of a real black hole have its Photinus marginellus. But it isn’t — up lock Run. We are at 2500 feet in the for- light on all of the time and emit darks? That close this firefly is not that little and it is ested mountains of Garrett County in west- would be more expensive for fireflies in not even a Photinus! It is a Photuris spe- ern Maryland— one of my favorite states this world, for searching anyway, but it cies. — in the “northern” Appalachians by some could work up close. As shadows fill in, blacking out the de- reckoning. Below us, after tunnelling a I once had a professor who declared tails of the edges under the trees and quarter of a mile further through the drip- that I would have to deal with astronomy’s shrubs, another flash pattern appears. This ping hemlock, yew and laurel, the Run Doppler redshifts in firefly luminescence one is clearly, almost, the flash-dash pat- caucuses with the rocky North Fork of the for my firefly studies. He was serious too. tern that H.S. Barber described for Potomac, what there is of it. I came up here A color-shift that firefly eyes could detect Photuris pennsylvanica. A sharp flash, the first time several years ago, to see if would be emitted by a firefly that was trav- OFF, and then an immediate sharp ON Photuris potomaca, a species origi- eling so fast that he would be again for a 2-3 foot/second streak. But this nally found along the river just heated to an incandescent is a long way from the tidal marshes above Washington, got this glow from the friction of where Barber found his pennsylvanica? far upstream. If it did I fig- passing air— and might The flash-dashers fly amongst the ured that it might have get someone a grant short-flashers, looking for love in all the jumped the divide go- from the Department same places, it would appear, They fly ing west and gotten of Defense. I have along the road, over the ditch, goldenrods into the drainage of wondered whether and ferns, under an overhanging bank, the Ohio River. No by manipulating the and later, up into the trees. Up there you telling how far west it position of firefly can really see the structure of their pat- could be, if it got over black holes on a tern, and also see that they are not all ex- the divide. Settlers lawn, you would be actly the same. The OFF doesn’t go com- went west, and this able to control the pletely off in all of them. I have seen the River Firefly might search of the Big same thing in populations many miles have crossed the di- Dipper Firefly, north of here at the edge of the glacial vide and gone west Photinus pyralis, in a moraine south of the Mohawk Valley in too— but, maybe it got predictable and quan- New York State. into the Potomac by going tifiable way. All this intense and life-serious activity east through the divide? The flash of the Lone and ageless competition is pursued in a Anyway, that is why I was in the Hemlock Firefly looks simple roaring, silence that sounds like a moun- mountains, where Lone Hemlock Run enough. You always want to look tain stream. Under the roar, and especially joins an embryonic Potomac River. close at the flashes of a firefly from the side when alone and after dark, there is an in- In the twilight under the shrubs by a near and below to see if it has any structure to termittent, deep-throated murmur, or corner of the bridge, a firefly has started to it. If he is flying fast enough, the flash will rumble, like low conspiring voices. It’s fly, emitting his short flash each 3-4 sec- be stretched out in space so you can see spooky. Boulders rubbing, or cavities reso- onds. No, he’s stopped. There must still be time along the flight axis. Sometimes nating like an organ, maybe. Now the a little too much light for him, and he could smeared out flashes twinkle, ripple, or penn-flashers have completely taken over. see that only after he had left his shady hitch. The human eye may be confusing The short-flashers had only 20-30 minutes perch and flew out into the open. Five min- time and space and flash intensity, and a of search at most, and they have been re- utes later there are a dozen more like him, coleoptical illusion may give some diag- placed for the night. each hovering and flashing, and moving nostic assistance, but its not fool-proof. Tomorrow we can compare to flash again a yard later— space is time From underneath, the flash of an upstate flash-voucherspecimens of the two flash to Einstein and a firefly, but the fireflies New York Photuris firefly looks like a bow patterns, but it will do no good. Even un- dealt with this truth first. How much space/ tie that isn’t tied exactly in the middle. der the stereomicroscope they will look time does a male have each evening, in a There is an unnamed Photinus in Arkan- the same. They are the same, the very lifetime, to search for a mate or mates? sas that I found on the bank of the Arkan- same males, and if short flashers had been At dusk, when ambient light is high, fire- sas River, that has a flash something like marked with a tiny dot of piper-cub-yellow flies sometimes pick their places to flash. it, but it flies so low to the ground that it is airplane dope on an elytron (wing cover), They aim their flashes at nooks and cran- hard to see a bow tie. This is the only North they would have turned up later giving the nies that are more likely to harbor females. American Photinus I know of whose flash-dash pattern. There is an easier and When the females see the correct flash males have a rapidly modulated flash but faster way than marking them, to see if it they flash back and attract them. Some- there are several in Jamaica and South is one species doing both things. If you times it takes a dozen or more such flash America. I plan to name this species after hold the tip of a penlight on the ground in exchanges, actually coded dialogues, be- an antique coleopterist from Indiana front of a short-flashing male — the pen- fore a male reaches the female. Some- named Willis Blatchley. He put in his time light isn’t the best decoy for this but it is times the approaching male just “gives up” as State Geologist, retired early, and did small and easy to carry between fireflies and leaves. This reminds me of a line from what he wanted to, he wrote several de- — he will switch and emit the penn-flash a Kenny Rogers song: “You’ve got to know finitive books on insect taxonomy — in- as he comes to your answering decoy, if when to hold em, know when to fold em; cluding “The Coleoptera of Indiana.” I you have timed your flash correctly after Know when to walk away, know when to doubt there will be any more like him his. [jlwb]

Vol. 1, Number 1 Winter 1993-94 Fireflyer Companion 7 Nomenclature: Getting Names Right Finding Obscure Collecting Localities How about De Geer, as in Chas. De Geer? An obscure collecting locality is a Taxonomists often have interests and ies wrote his name, and various other placename that appears on the locality specialties beyond their intimate knowl- sources, practices, and variations. Gurney label of a museum specimen that can edge of the group of organisms they noted that 1. most differences in the ren- not been found (with certainty) on maps taxonomize. A few actually understand the dering of De Geer’s name involve the way or in gazeteers (by a taxonomist that has structure and proper use of the Classical ‘de’ is combined with ‘Geer,’” that De Geer identified the specimen and wants to put languages that are used in formal taxo- had on occasion used CARL DeGEER, a a spot on a distribution map). One of the nomic names, and often their interests ex- latinized CAROLO De GEER, and Carol. De big-little pleasures of being an insect tax- tend to history and philosophy. Such men, Geer. Linnaeus, the originator of the es- onomist is that of digging out such lo- and sometimes women, are among the sence (pun intended) of the scientific calities, and then, sometimes, visiting treasures that museum ranges (collection naming system in use today, and a them to make observations or to collect rooms) harbor and protect. They help the fellow-countryman and friend of De Geer, more specimens. Such a name may be rest of us select terms to use for scientific used the form “De Geef” in the 10th Edi- the collectors’s nickname for the site names, they tell us when we have assigned tion of his Systema Naturae. (the Shack), or an acronym (Canara), or a word to the wrong gender, when a com- Gurney’s paper demonstrates the care use an ambiguous abreviation (F. = Fort bination we suggest is inappropriate, vul- that many taxonomists put into their use or Fred? Smith), or a slip of the pen or gar, or otherwise awful, and they help us and studies of names of biologial signifi- memory. put the correct ending (inflection I think it cance. His research and analysis could be Thirty years ago Marjorie Townes and may be called) on our undeleted epithets used in history and English, as well as bi- Ellen Linna* published the names of ect. ology. His bottom line was, “it is concluded many localities they had searched for, The taxonomic-language-experts that I that De Geer is the correct rendering of the including those they had found, those know, or knew, received their education surname.” Unfortunately, Gurney is now that were used for two or more sites, and before World War II. I know not whether extinct, and his own, an endangered spe- there are any coming down the trail, but I cies. [jl] those that they had not found. One of their obscure localities used by a fireflyer suspect not. One such student, Ashley B. Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc., 1956, 51:127 Gurney, for a long time was associated (H.S. Barber) was Difficult Run VA They with the Entomology Research Branch of identified it as “Stream flowing into the USDA, in Washington. Some time ago* Fireflies, Lightningbugs, Potomac River in Fairfax Co., 2 ± miles he turned his attention to the proper ren- down river from Great Falls.” dition of the name Charles DeGeer (1720 - and Roses Here are a few of the yet-unknowns from their list for your hunting pleasure. 1778)— The man De Geer named the What’s in a name? Most people in the American firefly now known as Photuris United States refer to flashing lampyrids Send me your findings: Aden MI; Ante- pennsylvanica (De Geer). For nearly a cen- as lightningbugs, but for more than a lope Mt. OR; Atila, B.C.; Camp Holsum tury almost every Photuris firefly in the century the term firefly has been used CA; Club Hill MD; Cookshire PA; Hatch- United States was called by this name, almost exclusively in scientific literature. ery Arm, B.C. Kelley’s Camp on Gaspé, because of the (then) impossibility of dis- Of course fireflies are neither bugs (Or- Que., Livingston ME, WY, & PA -, Mt. tinguishing among Photuris species with der Hemiptera) nor flies (Order Diptera), Manitou CO; Orestum, Ont. -, Snake characters present in dead specimens. but which name did you grow up with? River at Divide Creek ID; Sugar, B.C.; Among other “factoids” concerning this Where did you grow up, and who did Woodkill DE. (more later) [jl] firefly name is that De Geer originally you learn the word from? Where did *Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash. 1993, 65:233. spelled pennsylvanica with one “n” and they grow up? Please drop us a line, and that the specimen he attached the name we will begin to put spots on a map. to (what we now would call the holotype The only color lightningbug you see specimen) came from the area of today is yellow. Everyone thinks I am Wilmington, Delaware, then part of the nuts, but when I was a child they came Territory of Pennsylvania — a firefly story Exotic Fireflies in different colors? to tell later. Deborah, De Geers name, as it has appeared in There are many organisms in North Rockford IL. the formal presentation of the scientific America that have arrived from other Dear Deborah, names of insects, say, “Lampyris continents in the past 500 years. Some You are absolutely correct. Fireflies emit pensylvanica De Geer, 1774,” was written were brought on purpose, some hitch- light of different colors. The common in many different forms. Among those hiked. A firefly arrived with ballast, and Photinus pyralis emits yellow light; most Gurney mentioned were DeGeer, Degeer, survived nearly 150 years. Another is Photuris fireflies emit green biolumines- de Geer, and Geer. He noted that when known only from two very old speci- cence, most species in the genus Pyrac- used as the author of insects, the name had mens, and one was intercepted re- tomena emit orange-yellow light, but the been abbreviated as DeG. and Deg. Gur- cently at a Florida quarantine station. flicker of Py. angulata is orange. In South ney examined the evidence for how De One firefly was brought from “Ceylon” America there is a species of Phengodid Geer himself presented and accepted his to Hawaii in the 50s to control pest called the railroad worm, that has spots of name, in signature and set type, how his snails, but didn’t work out [jl] green light along its sides and a brilliant biographers, publishers, and contemporar- ruby-red light shining from its head. [jl]

8 Fireflyer Companion Vol. 1, Number 1 Winter 1993-94 ably either too hot, too dry, or flooded, there is plenty of oxygen sealed in with her maybe, from sprinklers). Perhaps you for a day or more. Try to find two or three could let a patch of lawn or an additional females. Put a thin slice of washed apple yard-wide strip at the edge grow tall (go in the jar to maintain humidity and for the back to nature) as a sort of nursery. Fe- females to sink their mandibles into. Put males released there, we hope, will lay in a small wad of fresh grass to give their eggs at the bases of grass stems. A “cover” and places to climb. week or so later the eggs will hatch into Next, catch four or five males and put worm-eating larvae. After finishing larval them in the jar, and give them some pri- development and the pupal period, the fol- vacy (kidding of course). We will hope that lowing June adults will appear above if the females had not mated before you ground and the males fly over the lawn caught them, they will within a couple of looking for mates. days, with the males you put in the jar with How can I attract fireflies to my yard Finding females may not be as difficult them. Put the jar with the fireflies in a place and garden? as you might think. Give it a try. Then, you where they can see (only) the light from Joann, Beltsville MD must be certain they are mated. Even this outdoors, which will keep them on a natu- is not too difficult. Here’s a guide: Photinus Dear Joann, pyralis is the firefly that makes the J-flash There are many species of fireflies in over grass at twilight. It should be active in your region, but not all are candidates for Maryland for several weeks in summer. your lawn and garden. Most of them have The flying J-flashers are the males giving a rather narrow range of habitats to which their species’ mating signal. Their females they are suited and probably would not are perched in the grass, and when they survive in the place you offer. However, see a half-second flash they count 2-3 sec there is one species in particular that is and flash a half-sec answer. The male fly adapted to meadows, pastures and other closer, flash his signal again, etc, etc, till grassy habitats, and is sometimes referred he reaches the female. The males will be to as “the lawn firefly”. You might say it is your competitors when you try to find fe- sort of a “weed” species, though it is a males. They will not quickly find females native American, not an introduced exotic. that are in brush or back under trees at the This is the Big Dipper Firefly, Photinus edge of the lawns and field where you pyralis (L.) (see figure). This firefly occurs should look — a firefly chaser selects sites throughout much of eastern North to search by the presence of males, and America (see map) and often is seen over specific female perches by looking in lawns, in parks, and along roadsides. It is shady spots and nooks that males are the lightningbug that children know be- more likely to miss. You will get better with cause it flies and flashes shortly after sun- experience. I don’t know whether fireflies set for a half hour or so, and flies low over do. the grass (up to 4-5 feet) where they can Take a penlight and walk around the chase and catch it. edge of the grassy area at sites you locate Like larvae of other firefly species, those (don’t go alone), and flash half-sec flashes, of pyralis are predators and they and other first here, then there, etc. After you flash ral daylength and cycled properly. Do not Photinus larvae may perhaps feed exclu- each time, wait, and look for the yellow put them in a sunlit window, the heat of sively on earthworms. They are answering flash at the 2-3 sec delay. If their greenhouse will kill them. If you find subterrainean, and should you manage to none, move on to the next likely spot etc. more females, up to maybe six or seven, get them into your yard, you may occa- When you get an answer, flash again and sionally find larvae and pupae while dig- get closer, until you can see the answer- Continued on page 10, see Dipper ging in the garden. However, fireflies do ing female, and carefully not seem to occur in areas where recent pick her up and put her Known geographic distribution of the Big Dipper construction, lawn-making, and bulldoz- in a jar. It is probably bet- Firefly, Photinus pyralis (L.) ing have shuffled and disturbed the struc- ter to gently brush her ture and composition of the soil. Also, into an open bottle that when chemicals are used in an area (pes- is held below her, but do ticides, lawn fertilizers) they may do dam- not bump her perch! Put age to the soil, to the worms, and to the no holes in the lid of her things the worms need, and thus keep the motel, for she will surely fireflies from getting established. dry out and die. Each Your mission not impossible is to give day that you have her, re- them a start, and then hope they survive. move the lid and blow Finding eggs would probably be out of the gently across the mouth question. You must find females and re- of the jar. Thiswill stir lease them in your yard to lay eggs — not fresh air (oxygen) down on the lawn, but at the edge where you into the jar. With the lid 1 or few records have let the grass get a little deeper and kept on, the air in the jar where the atmosphere near the soil is apt will remain humid, an many records to be better controlled (lawn grass is prob- absolute necessity, and

Vol. 1, Number 1 Winter 1993-94 Fireflyer Companion 9 true. Two speculated on male and fe- A Firefly Paper male differences, and one, a zoology I have fond childhood memories of major, said that, “all different species fireflies, like a lot of other people. I re- have basic differences in mating rituals, member going out into the soft spring so logically, different firefly species evenings to watch the sun set and lis- should be different too.” Impressed by ten to the sounds of nature waking up. her answer, I asked this particularly as- I would sit on the wide soft lawn be- tute student another question. Do all fire- hind my house and watch the first flies look the same? I was much disap- sprinkle of flashes of the spring turn into pointed by her answer, “I guess so, I’ve a shower. Each spring I would stare into never really paid attention.” Here we the darkness searching for the blinking come to the great truth of the firefly story. lights, and I remember finding those Many people watch fireflies to be enter- lights and being captivated — by the tained by their bright lights, but very few firefly. That was in Wisconsin. I also re- actually know anything about the in- member the short time we lived in Ja- sects. It doesn’t it seem as if the firefly is pan, looking for fireflies, and wonder- being, well...well used? We need to rem- ing if they spoke the same language as edy this case of mass ignorance of gen- American fireflies. Unfortunately for me eral firefly information. I never found out, because firefly is a Adventures in Researching. First I language I’ve never gotten a chance to turned to my good friend “Webster” learn. In Iowa, too, I would journey out (you know, the one who wrote the dic- with my little brother to watch, then tionary—he’s very smart) for a definition Whoo? What? How? Why? capture them in a jar for closer obser- of a firefly. This is what he told me. Fire-“ vation. And yes, even in Louisiana I fly: any nocturnal beetle of the family Dipper, continued from page 9 would go outside on warm evenings to Lampyridae having a light-producing watch for those bright little flashes. organ at the rear of the abdomen. Also all the better. Put in a few extra males. I had no idea why or how these called lightning bug. Compare glow You might divide your stock into two jars. strange creatures could make their fas- worm”. So, I looked up glow worm as After two to three days put the jars out cinating little flashes, I guess I just ac- well. “Glow worm: the larva or wingless at the edge of your lawn, in the shade, cepted it as a part of nature. Even now I on their sides with the lids off, and gen- know very little about fireflies (but I’m see Paper, continued on page 11 tly slide the loose grass wads to the learning!), and I’ve started to wonder mouths of the jars — keping it loose in about the rest of the general (human) Save, continued from page 5 the mouth for easy escape of your population. What do people really know creased danger in nocturnal outdoor ac- propagules. Then hope. You might take about fireflies? I decided to take an in- tivity in and near cities. But, I can say from some pictures of the process. It certainly formal survey of my friends to see what personal field experience, that there are is one of the first American firefly “re- they knew (if anything) about fireflies. still some fireflies present in the Bronx, and lease programs” and deserves to be re- “Facts” and Misconceptions. I de- Nassau, Westchester, and Bergen Coun- corded. Good luck, and please write and cided to start with the basics. First I ties. keep me informed of your progress and asked my friends if they had ever seen The map for one apparently rare spe- success. [jl] a firefly before. Quite happily, all of them cies, shows that it once occurred from had, so I proceeded to the next ques- New England to the High Plains. There are tion. What are fireflies? This question no archival records for New England after was followed by much laughter, jesting, the 1920s. Considering the ecology of the and a jumble of answers ranging from species, as understood through observa- wrong to somewhat correct — “Bugs! tions I made in Nebraska and North Da- Insects! Their eyes glow. Don’t their kota, stream and pond pollution could have butts light up? Yeah, don’t they have, been involved. Fortunately, there have Trivial Flashlets been three sightings during the like, headlights or turn signals or some- 1. What State in the U.S. has more firefly thing?” Since I was obviously in a group past two summers, in Connecticut, Massachusets and Vermont. species than any other? of incredibly aware and intelligent be- 2. What city has a firefly festival every year and ings, I decided to ask if anyone knew In the next issue I will detail the na- has been designated the firefly capitol of the why fireflies flashed. Once again I re- ture of my observational records for fire- U.S.? ceived a wide range of answers. “Is this flies in Alachua County FL, dating from 3. What continent has no fireflies at all? a pornographic question? Doesn’t it 1964. In the meantime, you might begin 4. What city built a monument to honor the boll have something to do with mating? Is to list and photograph the sites in your weevil, another beetle? this a sex thing?” area where you have seen fireflies in the 5. What town has a 3-ft high statue of a Encouraged by these responses, I de- past and that you could closely monitor mosquito in the square by the flagpole and a cided to push my luck and ask a slightly on a continuing basis in the future. Have mosquito festival and queen? more technical question — do all fire- any of your early sites been polluted with 6. What is the largest firefly in the world and flies have the same flashes? While the street light emissions, or taken out of fire- where does it occur? general group consensus was that they fly production for other reasons? 7. Are any firefly species cave-dwellers? did, three of my friends’ answers rang [jl] (to be continued) (answers next issue)

10 Fireflyer Companion Vol. 1, Number 1 Winter 1993-94 Paper, continued from page 10 female of a beetle, Lampyris noctiluca, PUZZLE CLUES which emits a sustained greenish light”. While this information was somewhat ACROSS 46. our Twinkle2 poet helpful, as it gave me a more specific 1. out of this world (as in “UFO”) 47. foot, or spider’s palp name to look for, it basically reviewed 3. handy pocket decoy 48. computer disk, not hd or low d what I already knew. I turned next to the 8. winter firefly color 49. a predator’s move encyclopedia, which wasn’t much help 11. firefly first defense either. The Encyclopedia Brittanica told DOWN 12. Big Dipper time-o-day me that fireflies were soft-bodied beetles 1. elytron (abbr. in morphol. text) 13. pyralis arena (I guess they don’t work out very often), 2. space for data in text (abbr.) 14. posteni or: insect= _____: ship about 5 to 25 millimeters in length, that 4. most common word for firefly 17. most evidence for firefly loss use a complex system of flashes as a part 5. intestine: fore___ , mid___ , hind___ 2 1. a family related to fireflies of their mating ritual. Needing more in- 6. Big Dipper’s substrate (i.e. carpet) 24. stipes (abbr. In morphol. text)) depth information, I then consulted my 7. when Winter Firefly transforms 25. upper leg (abbr. in morphol. text) friend LUIS, at Library West. He gave me 8. necktie for insect museum taxonomist and 26. no. modes in bimodal flash a list of possibly useful sources, includ- pinned-specimen sorter 27. furcula (abbr. in morphol. text) ing a book entitled “Studies on the Flash 9. flash characteristic flawed by observers’ own 28. sex of J-flasher over grassland Communication System in Photinus Fire- detectors 29. either ____ (facultative behavior) flies,” by some guy named James E. 10. fireflyer’s querulous associate Lloyd at the University of Michigan. I re- 30. Appalachian pass: water ______15. firefly enzyme (generic name) trieved this book and a few others, and 31. crow’s close, blue relative 16. living (chemically produced) light began my search in earnest. 32. no. native Hawaiian fireflies 18. Garrett Co. branch (i.e., stream) From the above mentioned book, I 33. Latin (feminine plural) ending 19. Collembola common name was able to extract some general infor- 35. male driving force (poetic) 20. “100” legged arthropod mation about firefly flash terminology. 36. cane- ______22. wingless emitter According to Lloyd, a steady emission of 37. sperm source/male progenitor 23. Photinus underground prey light is called a glow, a series of flashes 38. Macintosh user group (abbr.) 36. entomology (old abbr.) from the male to the female is called a 42. American tree killed by Dutch disease flash pattern, and a response flash is the 39. integripennis emission carried by a beetle female’s responding flash to the male 40. swarm: fireflies =____: buffalo 43. tarsal claw (colloq.) flash pattern. These different signals are 41. ice ___ , when few bogs open 44. gastropod prey of certain fireflies utilized by different species to attract and 45. a service for specimen delivery communicate with potential mates, and are specific to each species. 12 3 4 56 The next source I consulted was a the- sis paper by Lawrent Lee Buschman, 7 8910 “Biology and Bioluminescence of Se- lected Fireflies in Three Genera: Pyrac- 11 12 tomena, Photinus, and Photuris.” This 13 14 study was fairly useful to me because it presented general information about 15 16 flash patterns in the introduction. Buschman detailed the two main flash 17 18 systems that were first presented by 19 20 Lloyd. In the first system, one firefly (usu- ally the female) stays in one place while 21 22 23 24 emitting a signal to attract a firefly of the 25 same species but opposite sex. He noted that in species that use this system, the 26 27 28 female has a large, bright light, but the male often does not. In the second sys- 29 tem, one firefly (the male) flies around 30 31 32 while emitting a signal to stimulate a fe- male firefly of the same species, and the 33 female responds with a signal. 36 37 Another book I looked in was a doc- 34 35 toral thesis entitled “Photinus 38 39 40 collustrans: Reproductive Ecology of Flightless Female Fireflies” by Steven 41 42 43 Rae Wing. Although he inadvertently cre- 44 45 46 ated a new tongue twister for firefly stu- 47 48 49 Continued on page 12, see Paper Vol. 1, Number 1 Winter 1993-94 Fireflyer Companion 11 The Winter Firefly Paper, continued from page 11 It may come as a surprise, but summer is dents, he also presented a large volume not the only season that adults of North of information of which I could only uti- American fireflies are abroad. There is “one lize a small amount. Wing discussed fe- species” of rather broad occurrence in east- males of this species, describing them ern U.S. and Canada that ecloses to adult-hood in late surnmer and fall, and as “pale, soft bodied, conspicuous, and hangs around until the following summer. relatively slow-moving.” He also noted This is the Winter Firefly, Ellychnia corrusca that Lloyd had pointed out an interest- (L.). I have been collecting data on this fire- ing fact about the species. Males only fly for as long as I have been watching fire- spend about 18 minutes per evening flies and it is one of the most interesting “spe- looking for mates, as compared to over cies” that I know. First, it apparently is not a single species, belong to the beetle family. Lampyridae. Ac- 8 hours in some other species, a fact I but a mixture of separate entities that has so tually, there are dozens of lampyrid species find extremely interesting. far defied taxonomic resolution- I keep mea- that do not have lightorgans in the adult stage. A Glitch in the Process (a.k.a. suring museum specimens and collecting Having said this, I must go on to say that Where’s the Conclusion?). It is at this incidental notes on the “complex,” but since adult corrusca sometimes do emit light. Ju- point where I ran out of relatively gen- I only very rarely see it in Florida I can only veniles of all fireflies, as far as now known, eral information to include in this paper. do have light organs. In the Winter Firefly the wait for another winter trip up north. One All of the remaining sources I located “sort” that is worth noting, is the small and larval lanterns remain functional through the broad one that the early entomologist and pupal stage and into the adult stage. For a few were either checked out, too specific, physician Dr. Frederick Valentine days after adults eclose, these larval lanterns unsuitable material for this paper, or Melsheimer named autumnalis, in 1835. continue to emit light when the firefly is couldn’t be persuaded to talk for the Second, though adults do not have light- “roughly” handled, say, by gently being meager amount of money I offered organs and certainly must use pheromones shaken in a loosely closed fist. (Say not “seven them. Unfortunately, that brings my pa- (chemical signals) for sexual communica- come eleven,” but “bug come a light.”) per to an abrupt end, an occurrence that Finally, for now, one might expect that Win- tion, all of their other features — morphol- (for me) is rare and upsetting. I do hope, ogy, life-history, etc — reveal that they clearly ter Fireflies would hole up for the winter, and remain in crevices under bark and logs, to however, to get a chance in the future escape the dangers and accidents of wind, to expound on the ideas presented so hungry birds, and rapidly-changing tempera- far. Also, I hope that as I learn more tures. They don’t, at least some don’t. They about the interesting insects commonly are often found up on tree trunks, freezing known as “the firefly”, so that I can edu- temperatures and all, even with tiny piles of cate my friends and clear up the miscon- snow on their backs. Fred Hough and I are putting together a paper on this firefly that will ceptions and misinformation they hold. give some details of winter activity and adult (— turn signals, pornography, and glow- glowing. We will be putting our findings in a ing eyes? They really do need to be edu- research-teaching journal that several cated!). [Holly Saigo, U of F] fireflyers are developing. More later. [jl]

pronotum. n. shield-like plate par- tially or totally covering the head of fire- flies. It is the roof (dorsal sclerite) of the first thoracic segment. pheromone. n. molecules emitted by Editor’s Note an individual organism that are de- There are many reasons for begin- tected by another of the same species. ning a newsletter. Among ours is the Carried on the wind in what is called a shared belief that the best things in life, the stars, the moon, and the fire- This ink drawing of the Winter Firefly plume. eclose. n. to emerge, as when an flies ought to be free, and available. was made by a student many years ago. The many phone calls and letters that adult emerges from the pupa or larva When I find her name I’ll give her proper we get from children, parents, report- credit, but note the initials below the tip from an egg. ers, and editors, asking about fireflies of the right elytron. Note the diagnostic Lampyridae. n. family of beetles tell us that there is a “market.” A need. dark bands at the lateral margins of the known as fireflies. It is closely related We don’t know how long this will last. pronotum, the raised lines on the elytra, to the soldier beetles and glowworm It depends on interest, demonstrated the general broad and black habitus beetles. The ending -idae identifies the by letters and questions. We will try (body “look”). The light-colored areas on word as a family name in zoological for two years as a start. To get a copy each side of the median vitta (spot) on nomenclature. There are about 2000 write us a letter at the address given on page 2. Next time we will note the pronotum often have red, yellow, or named species of Lampyridae, and publication costs, that we ff hermits orange pigment. The distribution map is many more to be named and work to be done to understand what a “species” pick up this time. Get your penlights preliminary, and was put together from and fishpoles we go! data on labels of museum specimens. really is in nature.

12 Fireflyer Companion Vol. 1, Number 1 Winter 1993-94