Firefly Siren, P7050053

This was actually a by-product of a failed photo mission to capture a free firefly lighting up. Like many animals, they face a tradeoff between advertising themselves to potential mates & advertising themselves to predators. Unfortunately, the behavioral adaptations that make it difficult for predators also make it difficult for photographers. :-) They don't start up in the evening until it's hard to see them except by their flash, they seldom flash except in flight, and by the time you can get a fix on them they've gone dark, then they've moved before their next flash. Then of course there are the photographic challenges of focusing on them, photographing them in the low light, or using camera flash without washing out the firefly flash. I might get 'em yet -- maybe I'll think about technique & try again next summer. And remember the DEET next time.

Anyway, here I've settled for a flash photo of one that's resting. They're really quite pretty creatures. This one is different from the black-winged ones I'm used to seeing in suburban areas (ah -- those would be Photinus sp.). This was on a wooded canal bank near a swampy area.

Oh, my. Look what I just found on BugGuide: "Photuris sp. These are the ones in which the female fakes the flashing pattern of another species (Photinus sp.), thereby drawing in males, which she eats! There are several species of Photuris awaiting formal description, so ID beyond genus is pretty much impossible.
… Eric R. Eaton"

Maybe I don't need to feel quite so sorry for the one in the spiderweb.