Photinus pyralis

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Photinus pyralis

firefly

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Learn about this topic in these articles:

bioluminescence
The role of bioluminescence in behaviour
In Photinus pyralis, a common North American firefly, the male flashes spontaneously while in flight, emitting on average a 0.3-second flash every 5.5 seconds if the temperature is 25 °C (77 °F). The females watch from the ground and wait for a male to flash. Upon…
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In Photinus pyralis, a common North American firefly, the male flashes spontaneously while in flight, emitting on average a 0.3-second flash every 5.5 seconds if the temperature is 25 °C (77 °F). The females watch from the ground and wait for a male to flash. Upon…
Read More