Phausis reticulata
Encyclopedia
Phausis reticulata, commonly referred to as the "blue ghost" is a species of firefly
found in the eastern and central United States
. The species is common in the southern Appalachians, and can be seen in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
, as well as North Carolina's DuPont State Forest
and Pisgah National Forest
.
Unlike many fireflies found in the eastern and central United States, the luminescence of P. reticulata adults is characterized by a steady glow, instead of a species-specific pattern of flashes.
Firefly
Lampyridae is a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, and commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous crepuscular use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies produce a "cold light", with no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies...
found in the eastern and central United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The species is common in the southern Appalachians, and can be seen in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain. The border between Tennessee and North...
, as well as North Carolina's DuPont State Forest
DuPont State Forest
DuPont State Forest is a 10,000 acre tract, located in Henderson and Transylvania counties of North Carolina. The name originates from the fact that the DuPont company arranged the sale of the original tract to the state. Portions of the forest formerly contained a manufacturing facility for the...
and Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Pisgah National Forest is completely contained within the state of North Carolina...
.
Description
The males of this all-brown species have a short second antennomere (compared to the third) as well as large eyes. It is an unusual firefly species in that the searching males emit a steady green light.Unlike many fireflies found in the eastern and central United States, the luminescence of P. reticulata adults is characterized by a steady glow, instead of a species-specific pattern of flashes.