June Fireflies
Photinus australis
Twilight Bush Baby
Common
Look for Twilight Bush Babies early, before sunset, in the summer in shrubby and open woodlands or wood margins. They fly low and have a single quick flash every 2 to 3 seconds. They fly about the same time of night as the very common Big Dippers, but Bush Babies are smaller with a bar instead of a dot on their pronotum (head shield).
Photinus macdermotti
Mr. Mac
Common
Starting in late May, Mr. Macs flash about 30 minutes before sunset, flying low above the ground in river valleys and forests near streams. They are one of the “double-flash” fireflies, so watch for 2 quick pulses with about 2 seconds in between the pulses, then another pair of pulses after about 4 seconds.
Photinus pyralis
Big Dipper
Common
The Big Dipper, also known as the Common Eastern Firefly, is our best-known firefly. This species is the one that people commonly see in their yards as evening approaches. They are easy to catch, flying low early in the evening and going higher as it gets later. You will see them even in areas that have some light pollution, such as suburbs.
Photuris lucicrescens
Big Scaries
Common
Look for Big Scaries after dark in the summer in forests and forest edges. They are a very large firefly, with size varying from about the width of a thumbnail to about the width of your thumb joint. They have a pronounced hunched back and visible stripes on their wing covers, or elytra. They have a distinctive flash pattern, a slow green crescendo flash lasting up to 2 seconds, getting brighter then stopping abruptly, with 4 to 5 seconds in between. The females often lure males of other species and eat them!
Photuris quadrifulgens
Spring 4-Flasher
Common
Look for Spring 4-Flashers flying about 3 feet over the grass in agricultural areas, meadows, or old fields, starting in late April. You can identify them by their 4 slow flashes in a flash train that lasts about 2 seconds. There will be another train of 4 flashes after about 4 seconds of darkness. Spring 4-Flashers fly about 1.5 to 2.5 hours after sunset.
Pyractomena angulata
Say's Firefly
Common
Say’s Firefly can be found fairly late at night, 1 to 3 hours after sunset, in and near forests. They fly high, at least 6 feet above the ground or in the treetops. They have a fairly long, flickering orange flash that appears to be angled diagonally as they fly upward or downward, with 2 to 4 seconds in between flashes.
Photinus brimleyi
Sidewinder
Uncommon
Look for Sidewinders in forests shortly after sunset in the summer. They fly low and have a single quick flash, 1.5 to 2.5 seconds apart, that sometimes doubles back, giving the flash a jagged or fishhook pattern. Females are brachypterous, meaning they have tiny wings and can’t fly!
Photinus cookii
Cook's Firefly
Uncommon
A daytime firefly, Cook’s Firefly can be found during the day in the summer in yards, gardens, and open woods. Size is small, about the diameter of a pencil eraser or a little bigger. From the top, they look similar to many flashing fireflies, so make sure you look at their abdomen. Cook’s Firefly has no lanterns and doesn’t light up. They also look similar to another day-active firefly, the Silent Firefly. To tell the difference, look very closely at the pygidium, the very last abdominal, or tail, segment. The pygidium of the Silent Firefly is yellow and squared off at the end, while the pygidium of Cook's Firefly is dark and rounded.
Photinus consanguineus
Double Cousin Firefly
Uncommon
Double Cousin Fireflies are very similar to Mr. Macs. In fact, they look identical. They also have a double flash, but it’s quicker, with only half a second in between the 2 pulses, then about 5 seconds of dark before another 2 pulses. They also fly pretty early, around sunset, and they fly low to the ground.
Photinus consimilis
Cattail Flash-Train Firefly
Uncommon
Found in marshy areas or near streams or riverbanks, the Cattail Flash-Train Firefly flies slowly 3 to 6 feet above the ground and flashes with 4 to 9 pulses in a “flash train” that lasts about 2 seconds. Then it goes dark for 9 to 12 seconds before flashing again.
Photinus indictus
Silent Firefly
Uncommon
Look for Silent Fireflies during summer days in areas with tall grass. They are day-active, and from the top, they look similar to many flashing fireflies, so make sure you look at their abdomen. The Silent Firefly has no lanterns and doesn’t light up. They also look similar to another day-active firefly, Cook’s Firefly. To tell the difference, look very closely at the pygidium, the very last abdominal, or tail, segment. The pygidium of the Silent Firefly is yellow and squared off at the end, while the pygidium of Cook's Firefly is dark and rounded.
Photuris divisa
Double-Flash Photuris
Uncommon
Another species with a double flash, the Double-Flash Photuris flies very low, 1 to 2 feet above vegetation, and has a flash pattern very similar to the Double Cousin Firefly, half a second in between 2 quick pulses, with 4 to 5 seconds of dark before another set of pulses. Double-Flash Photuris will be out later, starting 15 to 20 minutes after sunset, and habitat is fields, roadsides, and prairies. If you can catch one, you will see a uniquely divided central bar on its yellow pronotum and no red.
Photuris missouriensis
Prairie Train Firefly
Uncommon
​Prairie Train Fireflies can be found in a variety of habitats, including fields, marshes, and near streams. These “fast flashers” are active about 20 minutes after sunset for 1 to 2 hours. Their flash pattern is a continued, intermittently broken chain of 4 to 16 quick flashes that are 1 to 2.5 seconds apart.
Photuris tremulans
Christmas Lights
Uncommon
Christmas Lights can be difficult to distinguish from other fireflies with similar flashes. They have a fairly unique long green flickering flash that is half a second to 1 second long, with 4 seconds in between. However, they also have a short single flash, with 2 to 3 seconds in between. They fly low in open areas near fencerows and trees or higher up in the trees. Look for them 45 minutes after sunset and later starting in late May. Another similar firefly is the Chinese Lantern / Low Slow Glow firefly, which has a long greenish flash (non flickering). Physically, Christmas Lights don't have noticeable stripes on their elytra, while the Chinese Lanterns do. Chinese Lanterns may be in Arkansas.
Phausis luminosa
Luminous Ghost
Rare
Luminous Ghosts are similar to Shadow Ghosts - they are tiny and the females are believed to be larviform. However, the males have lanterns on their abdomen, so they likely flash or glow. Not much is known about these fireflies! They likely are active in April and May. They were described in Arkansas and Oklahoma many years ago, but there have been no recent sightings.
Photinus punctulatus
Punctate Firefly
Rare
The Punctate Firefly is a rare species known only from the Midwest. We have one historical record from Hempstead County in Arkansas. Not much is known about this firefly, but it could be active starting in late April and into the summer. Look for it at night flying 3 to 6 feet over the ground in lawns and meadows, over long grass. This species is a “fast flasher,” with males displaying single quick yellow flashes about 1 second apart.
Photinus tenuicinctus
Ozark Spark
Rare
The Ozark Spark has only been found in northern Arkansas and Oklahoma. It is very similar to the Punctate Firefly, but flashes are a little slower, with 1.5 to 2 seconds in between. Not much is known about habitat, but look for them in forests and shaded lawns, starting 20 to 25 minutes after sunset.
Photuris walldoxeyi
Cypress Firefly
Rare
Only found in cypress and tupelo swamps, the Cypress Firefly was identified for the first time in Arkansas just a few years ago! They have a very unique flash pattern, with 4 to 9 fast pulses followed by a 1-second glow. There are 7 to 12 seconds between the flash sequence. Look for them in May and June starting 35 to 45 minutes after sunset.
Pyractomena palustris
Marsh Diver
Rare
Like the Marsh Flicker, the Marsh Diver lives in wet areas such as swamps, marshes, and wet fields. Scientists don’t know much about these fireflies or their distribution, so getting more data is critically important. It may be challenging to know if you’re seeing a Marsh Diver or a Marsh Flicker, since they could both be active in the same habitat and the same time of year, starting late April. Both species have a single flash and fly low to the ground, but the Marsh Diver tends to have a crescendo flash - starting faint and getting brighter towards the end – and it dives downward during the flash. Also, if you are able to catch one, you might be able to see some physical differences. The Marsh Diver has black marks on the sides of its pronotum (head shield), while the Marsh Flicker does not, and the Marsh Flicker has darker elytra (wing covers).