Photinus carolinus, commonly known as the Smokies synchronous firefly, is a species of rover firefly whose mating displays of synchronous flashing have fascinated both scientists and tourists. As individual females synchronize with males nearby, waves of alternating bright light and darkness seem to travel across the landscape. Firefly displays typically occur in early June near Elkmont, Tennessee, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Gatlinburg. The species can be found in isolated pockets of the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Smokies Synchronous Firefly being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Photinus knulli
- Photinus cookii
- Pyractomena lucifera
- Photinus scintillans
- Pyractomena punctiventris
- Micronaspis floridana
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Family
- Lampyridae
- Genus
- Photinus
- Species
- Photinus carolinus
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