Photinus consimilis

Photinus consimilis, or cattail flash-train firefly, is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in eastern North America.

Description
P. consimilis is a medium-sized beetle, with adults that measure about 10—11 mm (0.4 in) long. The head shield, or pronotum, is pale yellow with a dark, central bar that is sometimes wider at the front, bounded by red or pink. The wing covers, or elytra, are dark with light-colored margins. The male has lanterns on 2 segments of its abdomen and the female has a lantern on only one segment. The rest of the abdominal segments are dark.

Life Cycle
Beetles such as P. consimilis go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Photinus fireflies spend the majority of their lives as larvae, which are bioluminescent and likely live below the soil surface, eating snails, worms, and other soft-bodied invertebrates.

Behavior
Adult male P. consimilis fireflies fly usually about eye level or lower, flashing a series of quick pulses to attract the attention of females. Their flash pattern consists of 3 to 9 quick pulses of light, with each series, or flash train, about 2 seconds in length, with a period of 9 to 12 seconds of darkness before the next flash train, depending on temperature. A female responds with an answering double flash from a perch on low vegetation, and the communication continues until the male and female locate each other in order to mate.

Habitat
This firefly is found in wetlands, along streams, on riverbanks, and in marshes.

Range
P. consimilis is native to the eastern United States and has been found as far west as eastern Oklahoma and north to southern Ontario.