A striking behavior seen in a small number of firefly species, most famously in parts of Southeast Asia and at select sites in the Great Smoky Mountains, in which large groups of males flash their bioluminescent light in unison rather than at random, creating a rhythmic, pulsing display across an entire population. The synchrony is thought to emerge from each firefly slightly adjusting the timing of its own flash in response to its neighbors, gradually pulling the whole group into a shared rhythm with no central coordination.
Facts
PeriodicityAdult synchronous fireflies appear in early summer, from late May to June. 1 ScaleThe Elkmont, Tennessee firefly display attracted more than a thousand visitors nightly in early June 2011. 1 First DescribedThe species Photinus carolinus, whose males perform the synchronized flash display, was formally described by entomologist J.W. Green in 1956. 1 Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceMales emit four to eight very bright flashes over two to four seconds, followed by eight to twelve seconds of darkness, and when many flash in unison, waves of alternating light and darkness appear to travel across the landscape. 1 Connections
Associated With
Firefly synchronization is fundamentally a bioluminescent phenomenon: fireflies flash in unison using the same light-producing biochemical reaction that defines bioluminescence generally, synchronized as a mating signal.
Sources
1. Photinus carolinus - Wikipedia
Life cycle section
Adults appear in early summer, from late May to June.
Tourist attraction section
The firefly display near Elkmont attracted more than a thousand visitors nightly in early June 2011.
References, citation for the species description
Green, J.W. (1956). "Revision of the Nearctic species of Photinus (Lampyridae: Coleoptera)".
Behavior section
the flash pattern of a male P. carolinus is typically four to eight very bright flashes emitted over two to four seconds, followed by a dark period of eight to 12 seconds
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