Shadow ghost (Phausis inaccensa): The dark male shadow ghosts fly at night searching for ground-dwelling flightless females who glow from two tail spots as they perch on low vegetation or leaf litter just after sunset. Look for their greenish-blue glow just after true dark hovering 18-36 inches above the ground in wooded areas of mountains or valleys. Spring treetop flasher (Pyractomena borealis): The earliest species to emerge, these beetles produce yellowish lights up in the tops of trees about 45-90 minutes after dark as the males attempt to attract females with a flash about once every two to four seconds.īlue ghost (Phausis reticulata): Beaconing male blue ghosts can stay illuminated for up to a full minute. As more and more males join in, both the period of darkness and the flash trains become more synchronized.įaust suggests that those who don’t win the park’s lottery - slated for April 30 through May 3 - seek out several other species emerging in the Southern Appalachians in the next few weeks, including three that are visible right now in many easy-to-access environments. For synchronous fireflies, the pattern is a flash train of 5-11 yellow flashes, then a 6–9 second pause. Although a few species are day-flying and don't light up, most have a unique flash pattern to attract mates. There are at least 19 species of firefly just in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Her book, “Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning Bugs” features more than 70 species of luminous beetles, including historical backgrounds, a chart documenting flash patterns, and photos that illustrate the distinguishing physical characteristics of these captivating insects. “But now I know better.”Īfter the Elkmont fireflies piqued her curiosity, Faust ended up becoming one of the world’s firefly experts. “When we watched them at our family cabin, we thought lightning bugs were all the same,” she says. These larvae are successful when, at the end of their year or so of life, they “get their wings” and enjoy one “last hoorah.” In the case of Photinus carolinus, the synchronous firefly, this life-cycle finale provides the sensational choreographed light show that makes a lottery ticket for Elkmont so coveted.Įlkmont was the idyllic backdrop for summer vacations with family when Lynn Faust was a child. We usually think of a firefly adult, but in fact a firefly spends most of its life as an armored larva, crawling through leaf litter and feeding on things like snails, slugs, and earthworms.” “Fireflies are among a handful of organisms in the park that can create their own light - a trait called bioluminescence. “It's wonderful (and rare) that an insect - rather than a bear, elk or other mammal - can captivate so many visitors,” says Smokies entomologist Becky Nichols. This year, rather than risk visitors sharing a bus, the park will issue 800 vehicle passes, 100 per night, with each vehicle pass providing admission for parking directly at the Elkmont viewing location for one vehicle with a maximum of seven occupants. In 2019, the spectacle had attracted more than 28,000 people from all 50 U.S states and 19 countries to enter the lottery for the shuttle ride to view the fireflies. Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced April 27 that its popular synchronous firefly viewing event in Elkmont Campground will resume this year June 1-8 after a hiatus last spring to prevent the spread of COVID-19.įor more details, see related story on this page. View Gallery: Smoky Mountains National Park: Synchronous fireflies glow in forest scene
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