Common western firefly

The **common western firefly** (*Photinus pyraliodes*) is a species of firefly, most closely related to the common eastern firefly (*Photinus pyralis*), that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, scrublands, and desertd across the western United States, Canada, and Mexico to help boost biodiversity. The average adult common western firefly is dark brown and 10-14 mm long. Compared with most fireflies, the common western firefly is able to inhabit a much wider variety of habitats thanks to its ability to adapt to less forested environments and its tolerance to cooler, hotter, wetter, and drier habitats. The common western firefly is a flying and light-producing beetle with a light organ on the ventral side of its abdomen. In males the light organ covers the entire ventral surface of the three most posterior segments and in females it only covers a portion of the third posterior segment. The light organ (specifically the photogenic layer) is supplied with numerous tracheal branches, which are thought to provide the required oxygen for light production. The light-producing enzyme is luciferase, and is found within cells of the lantern. Luciferases require oxygen, luciferin and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to catalyze a chemical reaction that produces bioluminescence in these insects. Common western fireflies are carnivores and they eat a mixture of other insects, small spiders, earthworms, snails, and slugs. These fireflies are most noticeable around twilight, in the early part of the evening and hover close to the ground. The male flies in a J-shaped trajectory, lighting on the upswing. During flight, the J-shaped flight pattern is used in combination with patrolling flash patterns while seeking a mate. Their flashes are stimulated by light conditions, not by rhythmic impulses. The common western firefly is known to use certain defenses such as unpleasant odour and the excretion of a sticky substance to avoid predation. Excretion of unpleasant fluids from the areas along the elytra and pronotum is the result of tactile stimulation and has been referred to as reflexive bleeding. This reflex bleeding is a defensive function of the common western firefly, as it can cause certain predators to become entangled in the sticky substance (such as ants) or cause revulsion in others upon predation. The excretion contains lucibufagins, steroids found in both common western fireflies and common eastern fireflies that render them distasteful to certain bird predators. Whereas adult flashing is used in mate signaling, pupae glow is thought to be an aposematic display for nocturnal predators. Males are the first to start the series of patrolling flashes needed to locate and mate with a female. Males will actively fly while flashing, whereas females are sedentary. They will flash every 6 seconds and wait for a responding flash from the female, which comes after a 1-2 second delay. It has been shown that females only respond to their conspecific males; identifying them by the color of their yellow bioluminescent flash, in combination with the temporal patterning, duration and intensity of the male flash. Females will twist their abdomen towards the males flash, presenting their own flash toward the male. Males can be observed flying in a nearly vertical orientation; their antennae held forward and stiff while their legs are held toward the body during patrolling. They also show an obvious gaze shift towards the last female flash, and continue towards it until the female firefly flashes again. The flashes continue until the male reaches the female. Males congregate in large masses and it is most likely that more than one will find the same female; in this case male common western fireflies display aggression towards one another while not in flight. During the “aggression” stage, males with smaller elytra and smaller lanterns are favored; whereas during the signaling phase, males with longer elytra and bigger lanterns are favoured. Males with larger lanterns are favored in signaling phases of courtship because their broadcasting flashes can be seen by females who are further away, it is also suggested that due to their longer elytra these males may also have an advantage of finding the females faster. Adult common western fireflies do not feed during the mating season and therefore males are better able to attract females by offering nuptial food gifts, in the form of spermatophores which females can use to provide nutrients to their eggs. The conservation status of the common western firefly is **Least Concern** due to successful conservation efforts, the common western firefly's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.