Bug Huggers Adventure Camp 2026 – Day 2

Day 2 of Bug Huggers Adventure Camp at Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont, was filled with experiments, field research, and exciting discoveries about insect behavior.

Students arrived between 8:30 and 9:00 AM and began the day with a fascinating investigation into termite communication. Campers observed how termites followed lines drawn with a common blue ballpoint pen, then tested different ink colors, marker types, and even graphite to determine what attracted the insects. 


Through careful observation and experimentation, students discovered that a particular blue ballpoint pen contains chemicals that closely mimic the pheromone trails termites use to communicate and navigate.

At 9:00 AM, students geared up and headed into the Saint Michael's College Natural Area for a field experiment of their own. Campers wore blue baseball caps fitted with sticky tape to capture deer flies. About half of the hats were also equipped with a dragonfly silhouette attached to the top. As students hiked through the forest, they collected invertebrate specimens, checked pitfall traps, and placed additional traps in areas of old-growth forest for future sampling.

Throughout the excursion, deer flies frequently landed on the hats, providing valuable data for the experiment. When students returned to campus around 11:00 AM, they carefully examined each hat and compared the results. The evidence was clear: hats equipped with dragonfly cutouts attracted far fewer deer flies than hats without them. Students discussed possible explanations and concluded that deer flies may avoid dragonfly-shaped objects because dragonflies are important predators of flying insects.

Lunch was held from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, giving students time to relax and share stories from the morning's adventures.

After lunch, campers brought their collected specimens to the laboratory for closer examination. Using stereo microscopes, students explored arthropod anatomy and practiced scientific illustration, carefully recording details of their observations in their journals. This session provided an opportunity to learn how scientists document specimens and identify different groups of invertebrates. 

At 1:30 PM, students had the option of participating in bug-themed active games and campus exploration activities outdoors or remaining inside to learn the fundamentals of insect pinning and specimen preparation. Both groups remained engaged in hands-on learning while developing new skills and an appreciation for entomology.  

By 2:30 PM, all students were back inside for the final session of the day. Campers reviewed their journals, examined specimens one last time, and reflected on the discoveries they had made throughout the day. Some students chose to release their collected insects back into the environment, while others continued practicing microscopy and observation techniques.

All students were picked up between 3:00 and 3:30 PM after another successful day of scientific exploration, experimentation, and outdoor adventure. We look forward to seeing what discoveries Day 3 will bring.

Report from instructor Cole Logan (edited). Photos by Cole Logan. 

SMC VT Summer Bug Camp 2026: Day 1 Field Surveys, Microscopy, and Invertebrate Discovery

The first day of Bug Huggers Adventure Camp at Saint Michaels College in Colchester, Vermont, 2026, was a great success, with students arriving between 8:30 and 9:00 AM. After everyone settled in, campers created name tags and took a tour of the facilities, becoming familiar with the spaces we would be using throughout the week.

At 9:30 AM, students geared up and headed into the Saint Michael's College Natural Area. There, they learned basic field survey techniques while searching for invertebrates and setting up pitfall traps to help sample species. The field session continued until 11:30 AM and provided many opportunities to observe insects and other invertebrates in their natural habitats.

Lunch was held from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, giving students a chance to relax and discuss the morning's discoveries.

After lunch, campers examined the invertebrates they had collected using stereo microscopes. From 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM, students explored the remarkable diversity of structures, colors, and adaptations visible only under magnification.

From 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, students returned outdoors to the campus green, where they collected additional insects and participated in bug-themed active games that combined fun with entomological learning.

The final instructional session of the day took place from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM in the projector room. Students analyzed selected specimens and learned about the many forms of invertebrate life, comparing different groups and discussing their ecological roles.

All students were picked up by 3:30 PM after a full day of field exploration, scientific observation, and hands-on learning. We look forward to seeing what discoveries await on Day 2.

Report from instructor Cole Logan (edited).

Bug Houses, and Insect booklets, provided by Mercedes Oxford Kemp

 

Vermont's Living Lanterns: A Firefly Discovery Evening at The Farm Upstream

  ✨ Firefly Night Event

 The Farm Upstream, 150 Lee River Road, Jericho, Vt. 
July 1, 8:30 pm.  Free and open to all. 

“Glow & Wonder: Vermont Entomology Academy Firefly Discovery Evening sponsored by The Farm Upstream”

Experience the sparkle of summer nights! Learn about firefly communication, watch their bioluminescent displays, and enjoy guided twilight exploration with Vermont Center for EcoStudies biologist Spencer Hardy and Vermont Entomology Academy naturalist Bernie Paquette.

The farm stand will be open in case anyone wants a cookie, drink, or spinach. 

ABOUT FIREFLIES

There are fifteen species known to be in Vermont. 

Fireflies are disappearing largely due to rapid habitat loss, light pollution, pesticide use, and climate change. The reasons for their decline include:

Light Pollution

Habitat Destruction

Pesticides and Chemicals 

Climate Change

How You Can Help

You can support local firefly populations by keeping your outdoor lights off at night, allowing a corner of your yard to grow wild, leaving leaf litter for habitat, and avoiding broad-spectrum pesticides. To learn more about how to protect these insects, visit the Xerces Society for dedicated firefly conservation resources. https://xerces.org/blog/are-fireflies-going-extinct-here-are-six-ways-to-make-sure-they-survive.

Links to fireflies observed in Vermont. 

Taxon species names are hot links to the iNaturalist postings. Common name linked to VT Atlas of Life.

taxon_species_name	common_name	notes	Common nocturnal flyers that actively flash to communicate
Lucidota atra	Black Firefly	Day flyer. Adults have no working lanterns. Larvae are bioluminescent.	No
Lucidota punctata	Dotted Firefly	Only 3 on iNat for VT. Lantern-less diurnal beetle.	No
Photinus corruscus	Winter Firefly	Many on iNat. Lantern-less diurnal beetle	No
Photinus ignitus	Ignited Firefly	Only 6 on iNat for VT. Frequently found over open pastures and fields in Vermont. They exhibit a bright yellow-green mating flash. - Mass Audubon	Yes
Photinus indictus	Silent Firefly	Only 5 on iNat for VT, diurnal firefly, no lanterns, larvae are bioluminescent.	No
Photinus macdermotti	Mr. Mac	Only 2 on iNat for VT. Distinct double-flash of yellow light (two pulses spaced about 1.5–2 seconds apart), followed by a 4–5 second dark pause before repeating. - National Park Service	Yes       8:30 - 9:30 pm
Photinus marginellus	Little Gray Firefly	Only 3 on iNat in VT. The most common twilight and night flier in the state. Males flash a single 1/4-second yellow-green light every three seconds while cruising about four feet above lawns and forest floors. - Northern Woodlands	Yes
Photinus obscurellus	Murky Flash-train	Only 2 on iNat in VT.  Marshy, permanently wet areas—such as sphagnum bogs and low-lying pastures. Displaying males flash a 1 to 2-second "train" of 2 to 3 quick flashes (spaced at half-second intervals), repeated every 5 to 7 seconds. Females waiting on the ground or in low vegetation will respond with a specific "double flash”. - Nature Serve Explorer	Yes
Photinus pyralis	Common Eastern Firefly	7 on iNat for VT.  The male emits a specific yellow-green flash while flying in a J-shaped arc. Females, which generally cannot fly, wait on the ground or low vegetation and flash a response.	Yes Typically 20–30 minutes after sunset.
Photinus sabulosus	Creekside Tree Blinkers	They are active for about 45 to 90 minutes beginning exactly at sunset, during which males fly slowly through the boughs and leaves of trees to flash for mates.  Males emit discrete, pale-yellow single flashes every 2–3 seconds.	Yes      Tree level, rarely close to the ground.
Photuris fairchildi	Cape Breton Firefly	Known to use aggressive mimicry to lure in and prey upon the males of other species of fireflies. “One of Vermont's most common flashing fireflies. Males display a pattern of 3 to 4 quick, greenish-yellow flashes, waiting about two-and-a-half seconds between sequences.” - Sustainable Woodstock	Yes
Pyractomena angulata	Say's Firefly	Pyractomena feed on snails. Distinguished by a rapid, flickering orange flash. - Instagram TNC Vermont.	Yes
Pyractomena borealis	Spring Treetop Flasher	Pyractomena feed on snails. " Active from dusk into the night, easily distinguished by a raised ridge down their head shield. They emit an amber-colored flicker." - Mass Audubon	Yes
Pyractomena linearis	Marsh Gray Firefly	Pyractomena feed on snails. Threatened. Only 2 sightings on iNat. Wetland specialists. They are often found in and around swampy, marshy, or damp wooded environments.	Yes
Pyropyga nigricans	Dark Firefly	Light organs are feeble or nonfunctional. Courtship is initiated with pheromones.	No
Photuris pensylvanica / versicolor	Pennsylvania Firefly	None on iNat for VT. “Large, long-legged predators. They produce noticeably bright, green flashes and are known as the "femme fatales" of the firefly world—females will mimic the flash patterns of other species to lure in and eat the unsuspecting males.” - Mass Audubon	Yes

Check out the larvae stage of a Spring Treetop Flasher, Pyractomena borealis

AI reports on Firefly Communication (Not every firefly species communicates the same way).

Because there are nearly 2,000 species of fireflies, avoiding confusion in the dark is critical. They use three main methods of communication: 

• Bioluminescent Flash Codes (Visual): Most nocturnal species rely on a complex, visual "Morse code" emitted from organs in their abdomens. The male—usually flying—emits a pattern distinguished by specific colors (yellow, green, or orange), flash duration, and pauses. If a resting female of the same species recognizes the pattern, she flashes back with her own specific, delayed response. 
• Synchronized Flashing: Some species, like the Photinus carolinus in the eastern United States, synchronize their blinks with thousands of other fireflies in their area. This orchestrated "wave" ensures that females can easily recognize their own kind. 
• Chemical Pheromones (Scent): Not all fireflies glow. Diurnal (day-flying) "dark fireflies" lack light-producing organs. Instead, males track down hidden females by detecting species-specific pheromones in the air using their antennae. 

Bioluminescent Flashers: In most nocturnal North American species, males fly in a specific pattern emitting flashes. Stationary females watch and respond with their own specific flash pattern if they are interested. The two engage in a rhythmic dialogue until the male locates the female. ]

Synchronous Fireflies: Some rare species (like Photinus carolinus) synchronize their flashes as an entire swarm. Males flash in unison to create pulsing waves of light, which helps females easily spot and select a mate in dense forests. 

Continuous Glowers: Certain species don't flash at all; instead, the females emit a steady, continuous glow to attract flying males. 

Day-Flying Fireflies: Some species are active during the day (diurnal) and lack light organs as adults. These "dark fireflies" rely on invisible chemical pheromones detected by their antennae rather than visual light. 

Femme Fatales: Females of the predatory Photuris genus are famous for mimicking the flash patterns of other species. When a deceived male of a different species approaches, she eats him to gain defensive chemicals.

More About

Fireflies are not flies but actually beetles in the family Lampyridae

Fireflies produce light (bioluminescence) on the tip of the abdomen on the underside. Oxygen combines with a chemical called luciferin, producing luciferase. Not all fireflies can produce light, especially the smaller species. -  Insects of New England & New York, Tom Murray

"The glow is produced in a chemical reaction catalyzed by an enzyme, a remarkable process in which virtually no energy is lost as heat."

"Lampyrids have poisonous blood, exuding droplets from the base of their wing covers in defense."

- Field Guide to Insects of North America, Eric R. Eaton * Kenn Kaufman. 

Diet:  Firefly larvae eat snails, worms, and slugs, which they inject with a numbing chemical to disable. Adults eat other fireflies, nectar, or pollen, although some don’t eat at all.

    Larvae Diet: They are voracious predators, often called "glowworms," that feed on snails, slugs, and worms in moist areas.     Adult Diet: Adult fireflies often eat pollen and nectar, acting as pollinators.     Predatory Adults: Some adult females, particularly in the Photuris genus, lure and eat male fireflies of other species (like Photinus) to obtain defensive chemicals.    No Eating: Many adult fireflies do not eat at all, focusing solely on mating. 

Fireflies communicate primarily by using species-specific "flash patterns" or chemical scents to attract mates, avoid predators, and sometimes to deceive other species.

"Photuris are known to lure in male Photinus by mimicking their signal in order to consume the male to obtain his defensive chemicals." - Insects of New England & New York, Tom Murray.

Get an early view of all fireflies observed in Vermont at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=47&taxon_id=47731&user_id=bugeyedbernie&verifiable=any

View those observed in Jericho at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=55393&taxon_id=47731&verifiable=any

Read more about fireflies at https://xerces.org/endangered-species/fireflies/about

Read about their light and chemical production and more at VT ATLAS OF LIFE 

Read How to Build a Firefly Habitat

Ways you can help your backyard and street-side insects:

• Turn off outdoor lights in the evening. If you have the inside lights on, close the blinds
• Plant native plants
• Mow grass less frequently and raise the length of the cut to 4 inches
• When leaves drop in the fall, rake them if you want, but keep them in your yard
• Use non-pesticide solutions for insect control
• Know how much salt is necessary to de-ice sidewalks, and don’t overdo it
• Contact your city about reducing or finding alternatives to salt usage
• Watch insects closely, enjoy their presence as you learn about their bodies and behaviors
• Show others, particularly kids, how insects are interesting, not intimidating
• From Save the Fireflies (USFW)