Information Page for Photinus carolinus (Synchronous firefly)


Photographer: DLIA Staff, Unspecified

Photographer: DLIA Staff, Unspecified

This species is the synchronous firefly. Many make the annual drive to the park early every June to view these fascinating members of the beetle order. The park has been coordinating controlled trips to the Elkmont area of the park for tourists, who number in the thousands. Because of the great interest, and the numbers of visitors, the park requires that those interested in seeing this phenomenon call to reserve a seat on the buses.

What make the Synchronous Fireflies unique is their coordinated lighting. While this lighting is intended to attract other fireflies, humans are attracted as well and several come to the Smokies in the middle of June to see the synchronized lighting show put on by the fireflies. Scientists are not completely sure why the fireflies light up the way they do, but one theory involves competition amongst the males to attract females.

The Great Smoky Mountains are one of only two places in the world where this natural wonder occurs.

TAXA LINKS
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Lampyridae
Elevation Distribution:
Phenology




Park Sensitive Species? No

For More Information Click the Links Below!
DLIA Smokies Park Distribution Map Animal Diversity Page Wikipedia Page Univ Mich Biokids Page iNaturalist Taxa Page

- - Page Author: Chuck Cooper - -

Click Critter Search to look up distributional info on any organism or grouping of organisms.