In a few swampy forests in South Carolina, a rare species of fireflies makes their home. Transforming forest floors into pulsing light shows, these are not the lightning bugs from my childhood. The rapidity, density, and coordination of these flashers is breathtaking.

At the end of May each year these fireflies (photuris frontalis), nicknamed snappy syncs , transition from larvae to pupal stage and for about 2-3 weeks they fly around at night, flashing and finding mates. The males typically fly a few feet high, looking for females on the forest floor.

In addition to communicating via flash with their own, females mimic other species’ flashes to attract males to eat — not for sustenance, but for a predator defense toxin.

Fireflies are beetles, not flies nor bugs. To purchase a print, visit the store.

Copyright 2022 Sean Rayford. All rights reserved.

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About the author: Sean Rayford is a South Carolina photojournalist. Rayford was vice president of his high school’s varsity club. He ran cross country and track & field.