25 August β 24 November
the coastal calendar, shifted 24 days later for this region
Damp grassy banks and woodland edges on still June nights, away from any street light.
The glowing insect is a wingless adult female that does not feed and lives about a fortnight β the whole display is two weeks of a two-year life. Any nearby lamp drowns the signal, which is the main reason the species is retreating from villages.
photos, sightings and recordings, off this site
where this species is on the list
| Phase | When | Length | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| larvae feeding | 25 August β 24 November | 92 days | Caterpillars, grubs or nymphs feeding and growing. |
| overwintering | 25 November β 13 May | 170 days | The species passes winter as an egg, larva or pupa; no adult is on the wing. |
| in the pupa | 14 May β 17 June | 35 days | Rebuilt inside a chrysalis or cocoon; the animal cannot move or feed. |
| adults on the wing | 18 June β 28 June | 11 days | The new generation is out, winged and looking for a mate. |
| courting | 29 June β 2 August | 35 days | Song, display, fighting, scent-marking β pairs forming or reaffirming. |
| on eggs | 3 August β 24 August | 22 days | Clutch laid and being incubated, or buried and left to the sun. |