Beneath a female firefly

I realized a long time ago that I will probably never be able to photograph a “glowing” firefly or “lightning bug” in flight. This evening I saw what I thought was a type of beetle I’ve photographed before, but I took a few frames and then pulled it off the leaf to take some frames in my hand. It turned out to be a firefly, but on a BugGuide page I learned that this is probably a female. Why, you ask? Check out this exchange between a photo-contributor and a BugGuide contributing editor, http://bugguide.net/node/view/300070/bgimage » “For Photinus and Pyractomena fireflies, it is easy to determine their gender by examining their light organs. A male Photinus can be identified by the last two light sections on his abdomen, while a female has her light organ on the second-to-last segment.” … “Makes sense, as males are the more ‘expendable’ gender, so if their bright lights draw the attention of predators, no big deal. Females give more subtle flashes to protect their investment in their developing eggs.”

Clearly, I have photographed a female, whose light organ is on the second-to-last segment of her abdomen.

1 year ago (“Last ‘clean’ shot”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-06-22
2 years ago (“How many proboscises?”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-06-22
3 years ago (“Day lily”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-06-22

Taxonomy:
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
»» Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
»»» Class Insecta (Insects)
»»»» Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
»»»»» Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Long-horned, Leaf and Snout Beetles)
»»»»»» Superfamily Elateroidea (Click, Firefly and Soldier Beetles)
»»»»»»» Family Lampyridae (Fireflies)
»»»»»»»» Subfamily Lampyrinae
»»»»»»»»» Tribe Photinini
»»»»»»»»»» Genus Photinus

[IMG_103_4514]

22nd June 2014 22nd Jun 14

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Tara

Thanks Thom! Even though you're probably right, catching a lightning bug in flight lighting up is still on my bucket list . . . I was out just 2 nights ago trying :)

June 25th, 2014

Thom Mitchell

@tara11 I figure it's a matter of using a 128Gb memory card, setting up a tripod and just pushing the shutter release until the card's full … but I don't have *that* much patience!

June 25th, 2014

Tara

Ha - me neither. I'm just hoping for dumb luck ;))

June 25th, 2014

MaryBeth Dailey

This is some cool info! I did not know that. I wanted an ND filter (10 stops..really blacked out) for my birthday in May, so I could shoot Lightning bug trails/ long exposure shots this June. But hubby got me that wonderful kayak instead. But still no ND filter. haha I see the l bugs just glowing around the yard at dusk. I want to go at least video a minute of the yard when they are blinking. The long exposure shot might work without an ND filter if they keep blinking until really dark and they are in the shaded areas AND not leave the shutter open too long..maybe 30 to 45 seconds. Not sure. May try it.

June 25th, 2014