The New Mexico Rare Arthropod Resource

Very little is known about the habitat and ecology of this species. Both males and females are winged, but mating behavior is unknown. It is unclear if adults use their lanterns in courtship, or if like most Photinus (=Ellychnia), pheromones are used instead. Specimens have been collected at UV lights (BugGuide 2023), suggesting adults may be attracted to light. The larvae are unknown, but like other firefly species, those of P. flavicollis are likely carnivorous, feeding on soft bodied invertebrates such as snails, slugs, and earthworms (Lewis 2016). Very little has been documented about the habitat associations of this species, although it appears to be associated with lower elevation pine forests of mountainous areas, often in proximity to water (LeConte 1868, Fender 1970, BugGuide 2023). LeConte (1968) describes individuals as “found clinging to plants.”

Photinus (=Ellychnia) flavicollis is found in New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas (LeConte 1868, Fender 1970, Lloyd 2003, BugGuide 2023, GBIF.org 2023). There is also one record each, in California and Nevada from 1924 and 1882 respectively, though these are likley erroneous, as no recent records have been taken in either state (GBIF.org 2023).

No known conservation actions are in place for this species, although some localities occur within protected areas, such as the Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness in Texas (Protected Planet 2020). Additional research on this species’ life history, ecology, distribution, and population status would be helpful for assessing its conservation status and threats to its persistence. In particular, surveys at historic sites and other potential habitat within this species’ range are critically needed to determine the distribution of this species. Because this species is so distinctive morphologically, photo vouchers may prove adequate for identification. Information on habitat associations and larval diet is also needed. As with all western Ellychnia, further taxonomic work is greatly needed to sort out the relationship of this species with other members of the genus; it has been speculated that this species belongs in an entirely different genus altogether (BugGuide 2020).

Specific threats to are unknown. However, similar to other firefly species, habitat loss and degradation, pesticide use, and climate change may all affect this species (Lewis et al. 2020). In particular, because this species is found in the arid American Southwest, drought is likely a key threat to this species. At all stages of their life cycle, fireflies require moist conditions; hence, they are typically found near water (Evans et al. 2019). Degradation or loss of water sources negatively affects both fireflies and their soft-bodied prey. Because of this reliance on moisture, in the arid American West, fireflies are typically associated with permanent water sources (L. Buschman pers. comm. 2019). Drawdowns for human water usage and loss and degradation of water sources due to drought can lead to increased mortality of fireflies through desiccation (L. Buschman pers. comm. 2019, Lewis et al. 2020). Climate change has further altered precipitation patterns in the southwestern US, resulting in an increase in the duration, intensity, and frequency of drought (NPS 2018).

Abundance estimates and population size and trends for this species are not available.

• Fender, K.M.. 1970. Ellychnia of Western North America (Coleoptera Lampyridae). Northwest Science 44: (31-43).
• Protected Planet. 2020. Protected Planet The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). IUCN and UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK . www.protectedplanet.net
• Lloyd, J.E.. 2003. On research and entomological education VI firefly species and lists, old and now. The Florida Entomologist 86: (99-113).
• Lewis, S.. 2016. Silent Sparks The Wondrous World of Fireflies. Princeton University Press, Princeton .
• Lewis, S., Wong, C.H., Owens, A., Fallon, C., Jepsen, S., Thancharoen, A., Wu, C., De Cock, R., Novak, M., Lopez-Palafox, T., Khoo, V. and Reed, J.M. . 2020. A global perspective on firefly extinction threats. BioScience 70: (157-167).
• Evans, T.R., Salvatore, D., van de Pol, M. and Musters, C.J.M.. 2019. Adult firefly abundance is linked to weather during the larval stage in the previous year Firefly abundance and weather. Ecological Entomology 44: (265-273).
• National Park Service (NPS). 2018. Natural Resources Monitoring at Chiricahua National Monument (U.S. National Park Service). 2019. https://www.nps.gov/im/sodn/chir.htm
• BugGuide. 2020. Species Ellychnia flavicollis. Iowa State University, Ames, IA 2020. https://bugguide.net/node/view/251675
• Cranshaw, W.. 2009. Colorado Insects of Interest Fireflies (Lightningbugs). Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 2020. http://www.wci.colostate.edu/Assets/pdf/CIIFactSheets/Fireflies.pdf
• Cranshaw, W. and B. Kondratieff. 2006. Guide to Colorado Insects. Westcliffe Publishers, Englewood, CO : (231).
• GBIF [Global Biodiversity Information Facility]. 2020. GBIF Occurrence Download . 2020. https://www.gbif.org/species/1162874
• LeConte, J.L.. 1868. New Coleoptera collected on the survey for the extension of the Union Pacific Railway, E.D. from Kansas to Fort Craig, New Mexico. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 2: (49-59).
• IUCN. 2021. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2021-1. www.iucnredlist.org
• ITIS. 2019. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). 2019. https://www.itis.gov/