Modeling firefly swarms as coupled oscillators

The study of mass synchronous behavior has primarily focused on the analysis of abstract and greatly simplified mathematical models. Many applications of these models to living systems have been proposed, but incorporation of real-world data is unfortunately rare. Here we present new data and analysis regarding synchronization phenomena observed in one species of firefly, Pteroptyx malaccae. Due to its relative immobility during synchronous flashing displays, this species offers a unique opportunity for reliable tracking and direct application of candidate models. In late 2022, we used stereo videography to document the three-dimensional behavior of multiple swarms over multiple nights. Our preliminary results show that swarms exhibit “meta oscillations” characterized by order parameters that rise and fall on an intermediate time scale (~40 times longer relative to the typical flashing period of a firefly), consistent with models suggesting a “breathing” chimera state.