Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Science

In a South Carolina swamp, researchers uncover secrets of firefly synchrony

In the middle of the old-growth forests of Congaree National Park in South Carolina, fireflies put on an otherworldly display every May. Thousands of male insects belonging to the species Photuris frontalis flash together at the same time and follow the exact same pattern—a synchronous light show yo...

In a South Carolina swamp, researchers uncover secrets of firefly synchrony
Image: Phys.org
In the middle of the old-growth forests of Congaree National Park in South Carolina, fireflies put on an otherworldly display every May. Thousands of male insects belonging to the species Photuris frontalis flash together at the same time and follow the exact same pattern—a synchronous light show you can see only in few places in the United States.

Originally published at Phys.org

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