Dotted Firefly

Dotted Firefly

Lucidota punctata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%

13 Verified sightings at Great Smoky Mountains National Park From 2019 to 2026
18 In all 2 parks
June Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Dotted Firefly

Lucidota punctata is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is found in North America. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
2 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Dotted Firefly in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Dotted Firefly sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a given day, based on 13 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 441st most-seen of the 822 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Dotted Firefly in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

May and June

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Dotted Firefly in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a given day, against under 5% in July to April, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Dotted Firefly?

Between 1 and 4 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Dotted Firefly sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Great Smoky Mountains National Park the best place to see a Dotted Firefly?

Yes

Of the 2 parks where we can rate Dotted Firefly sightings, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come Shenandoah National Park (United States, under 5%).

Where does the Dotted Firefly sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Dotted Firefly is recorded against all the insects logged in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (13 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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