Firefly Atlas 2024 Year in Review
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 …
What if I don’t live in a Firefly Atlas focal region?
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 …
What can we learn this firefly season? Lots! Discoveries await.
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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.
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 …
