The Xerces Society submitted this petition for listing the Florida intertidal firefly (micronaspis floridana) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2023.
The Florida intertidal firefly, also known by the common names mangrove firefly and fiddler crab firefly, is a habitat specialist found only in the mangroves and salt marshes of coastal Florida and the Bahamas. Belonging to a tropical branch of the firefly family tree, this species is the only member of its genus in the United States. Adult Florida intertidal fireflies have a distinctive appearance, with a mostly transparent head shield, large eyes, and wide pale borders on dark wing covers. After nightfall, adults fly low over coastal vegetation and flash a greenish yellow light every 1.5 to 4 seconds.