Pennsylvania Firefly vs Organ Pipe Mud Dauber
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Pennsylvania Firefly | Organ Pipe Mud Dauber |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Photuris pennsylvanica | Trypoxylon politum |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Lampyridae | Crabronidae |
| Size | 10-15 mm | 15-20 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Underground |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Eastern North America from Canada to Georgia | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Pennsylvania Firefly
A common firefly of the eastern United States that produces a green-yellow bioluminescent flash. Adults are soft-bodied with a dark pronotum edged in pink.
Did You Know?
Females mimic the flash patterns of other firefly species to lure males as prey, earning them the name femme fatale fireflies.
Organ Pipe Mud Dauber
A slender black wasp that builds distinctive parallel tubes of mud resembling organ pipes under eaves and overhangs. Males guard the nest while females hunt.
Did You Know?
Males are unusually dedicated fathers for wasps, standing guard at the nest entrance against parasites while the female hunts.