Foxfire Fly

Orfelia fultoni occurs in the Appalachian Mountains and Cumberland Plateau, primarily in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The larvae of the species live in stream banks among moss and rock cavities, as well as in wet sandstone caves. They build sticky webs on moss, rotten wood, in cracks between rocks or on bare soil, and using their two bioluminescent lanterns as an attractant, capture flying prey in their webs. Once caught in the web, chemicals in the web paralyze the prey. O. fultoni require a dark, still area where their lights can shine and where the wind doesn’t disturb their webs too much.

Dismals Canyon. Orfelia fultoni has sometimes been referred to by the common name "dismalites", in consequence of their presence in Dismals Canyon, an 86 acres (35 hectares) National Natural Landmark with a spring-fed creek and waterfall in northwest Alabama. The canyon is home to the largest population of O. fultoni anywhere in the United States. There are two peak seasons for the larvae in Alabama, the spring peak of late April through May, and the fall peak at the end of September through the first of October. They are visible throughout the year in smaller numbers. Dismals Canyon offers guided evening tours for visitors to see the dismalites.