Synchronous Rhythmic Flashing of Fireflies

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Abstract
The flashing of fireflies is seen in its most astonishing aspect in southern Asia, where thousands of the insects cluster closely together in trees and then all flash in synchronous rhythm over long periods of time. Theories attempting to explain this phenomenon are discussed; it has been suggested that the synchrony is accidental, that it is an illusion, that the insects have a sense of sympathetic rhythm, or that there is a pacemaker fly which all the other flies follow. No theory appears fully satisfactory. Exptl. evidence is presented which indicates that in the American firefly, Photinus pyralis, synchronism is sometimes a by-product of the flashing signals used in mating and sometimes is due to a follow-the-leader response. A bibliography of synchronous behavior of various kinds among many different species is included.