Richard Joyce

Fireflies flashing in front of trees

Firefly community science: Which project should you choose?

By Candace Fallon, Senior Endangered Species Conservation Biologist Interested in participating in a firefly community science project, but not sure which one to pick? We get it—with several different projects occurring all over the country, it can be tricky to figure out! Firefly Watch used to be the firefly community science project in the US, …

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Fireflies flashing in front of trees

Secrets of the Nevada nighttime (no, it’s not aliens)

By Kevin Burls, Endangered Species Conservation Biologist It’s no secret that water brings life to the desert. In Nevada, mountain streams and desert springs support plants and animals both common and rare, including insects and other invertebrates. These springs and streams can support diverse insect communities in the middle of what feels like very inhospitable …

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Notes from a dazzling firefly season

While flashing adult fireflies can still be found in a few corners of the country, lightning bug season is mostly over for the year. This season was a dizzying one, with threatened fireflies across a wide geography receiving much needed attention. Several field excursions targeted species with Data Deficient Red List statuses, but this post …

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Fireflies in Florida?

Overlooked bioluminescent beetles “I’ve lived in Florida for decades and have never seen fireflies.”“I’ve seen them up north, but never here.”“Fireflies? I don’t think we have fireflies in Florida…” These are common statements I hear when I bring up the topic of fireflies in the Sunshine state. In reality, there are over fifty species of …

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Online Firefly Identification Course

Monday, May 1st, 20231:00 PM to 4:30 PM EST Tuesday, May 2nd, 20231:00 PM to 4:30 PM EST Wednesday, May 3rd, 20231:00 PM to 4:00 PM EST The Xerces Society is offering a free, online course on identification of fireflies of the U.S. and Canada. This 3-day course will familiarize participants with North American firefly …

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New firefly atlas will put beloved beetles on the map | Xerces Society

Starting this spring, conservation professionals and volunteers can join a new opportunity to study and protect a beloved group of insects that brings magic to the night: fireflies. The Firefly Atlas invites participants from all backgrounds to look closely at fireflies and to share their sightings to inform conservation. Read the full article: https://www.xerces.org/blog/new-firefly-atlas-will-put-beloved-beetles-on-map.

Fireflies flashing in front of trees

Firefly Survey Tips

Are you interested in observing and documenting fireflies, but aren’t sure where to start? Between scientific names, flash pattern measurements, and insect anatomy terms, fireflies can be an overwhelming subject! Read on for some tips on equipment, what to pay attention to, and how to stay safe. Ready to survey for fireflies? Read through the …

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Rare fireflies sync up in north Georgia | UGA CAES Newswire

The loopy five firefly (Photuris forresti) emerged as a favorite firefly of University of Georgia entomology students who spent an evening watching lightning bugs in northeast Georgia. Read the full article, which appeared in the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension Newswire.

Introducing the Firefly Atlas!

Welcome to the Firefly Atlas, a collaborative initiative to better understand and conserve the diversity of fireflies in North America! Whether you are a professional biologist, a passionate community scientist, a land manager, an educator, or simply a firefly enthusiast, this site will provide you with resources and opportunities to learn and contribute. While a …

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This is a project of the Xerces Society, working in collaboration with the IUCN SSC Firefly Specialist Group and New Mexico BioPark Society.

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