Within insects, pollinators often seem to get VIP treatment. Bees in particular get heralded for their role in helping plants set seed, produce fruit, and reproduce. While beetles aren’t usually the first group of insects to come to mind as pollinators, they actually have a long history in this role, with fossil records indicating that …
Richard Joyce, Endangered Species Conservation Biologist By the Numbers This year, Firefly Atlas participants submitted data from 857 surveys and incidental observations. There were 304 full surveys, which included both species-specific surveys targeting 32 different species and open-ended surveys, where surveyors simply went out to see what types of fireflies they could find. In total, …
How do we protect firefly populations while also achieving other ecological goals on the landscape? This is a question that land managers grapple with when figuring out how to maintain the wildlife habitats they steward. Prescribed fire, also known as controlled burns or cultural fire, is the intentional use of fire to sustain or regenerate …
Firefly researchers (professionals and community scientists alike) often find themselves on a steep learning curve when gathering data on firefly species, especially when they are using methods that don’t involve collecting specimens. This post breaks down some of the ways to ensure that the data you are collecting is as useful as possible for species, …
By Richard Joyce, Endangered Species Conservation Biologist By the Numbers Firefly Atlas grew by leaps and bounds this year, as community scientists and agency biologists across North America dove into making firefly observations and conducting surveys. Check out some of the Firefly Atlas’s 2024 statistics below! Notable Findings Firefly Atlas participants made important and fascinating …
By Richard Joyce, Endangered Species Conservation Biologist You’ve created a Firefly Atlas account, looked over the participant handbook, and watched the training video. You’ve read the Community Science Code of Conduct, gathered the equipment you’ll need, and printed out survey data-sheets. There’s just one issue: you don’t live in any of the focal regions highlighted …
By Richard Joyce, Endangered Species Conservation Biologist As lightning bug season warms up in the more southern parts of the United States, firefly experts and aficionados feel excited, but also a bit frantic. The adult flight period of most firefly species lasts just a matter of weeks, and the phrase that often comes to mind …
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 …
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 …
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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