FLASH PATTERNS IN JAMAICAN FIREFLIES

¹ McCollum-Pratt Institute, Department of Biology, and Department of Physics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore 18, Maryland, and the Laboratory of Physical Biology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

1. A portable photometer has been devised, permitting recording of flashes of flying fireflies in the field under natural conditions.

2. Various Jamaican fireflies typically emit their light according to one of the following patterns: (a) long-continued flow, usually fluctuating in intensity, (b) single concerted flashes of 75-100-msec. duration, delivered at regular intervals of 2 to 6 or more seconds, (c) one or more twinkles or flickers consisting of 4-20 or more short flashes at frequencies of 10-18 per second, delivered every few seconds.

3. In captivity a given species usually gives a simpler type of flash than when in flight.

4. The flash patterns are highly constant and are characteristic of particular species, though not completely invariant.

5. The photometric records show some visual impressions of firefly flash type to be in error, particularly in the detection of flicker.

6. The photometric records show that the photogenic control mechanism is capable of inducing peak flash luminosity or of extinguishing the light in periods of the order of 30-60 msec.

7. Unexplained high-frequency fluctuations in intensity of glowing are provisionally attributed to uncoordinated firing of photocytes in small groups.

8. Data for absolute photon emission are given for six species.

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