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 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 becoming rare 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.

taxon_species_name	common_name	notes
Lucidota atra	Black Firefly	Day flyer, smaller light organs. Larvae are bioluminescent.
Lucidota punctata	Dotted Firefly	Only 3 on iNat for VT.
Photinus corruscus	Winter Firefly	Does not have a light
Photinus ignitus	Ignited Firefly	Only 6 on iNat for VT
Photinus indictus	Silent Firefly	Only 5 on iNat for VT, diurnal firefly, no lanterns, larvae are bioluminescent.
Photinus macdermotti	Mr. Mac	Only 2 on iNat for VT.
Photinus marginellus	Little Gray Firefly	Only 3 on iNat in VT
Photinus obscurellus	Murky Flash-train	Only 2 on iNat in VT
Photinus pyralis	Common Eastern Firefly	7 on iNat for VT, characteristic flight of the males, whose trajectory appears to follow a J-shape, lighting on the upswing.
Photinus sabulosus	Creekside Tree Blinkers
Photuris fairchildi	Cape Breton Firefly	Known to use aggressive mimicry to lure in and prey upon the males of other species of fireflies.
Pyractomena angulata	Say's Firefly	Pyractomena feed on snails.
Pyractomena borealis	Spring Treetop Flasher	Pyractomena feed on snails.
Pyractomena linearis	Marsh Gray Firefly	Pyractomena feed on snails. Threatened. Only 2 sightings on iNat.
Pyropyga nigricans	Dark Firefly	Light organs are feeble or nonfunctional. Courtship is initiated with pheromones.

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

AI reports on Firefly Communication (Not the same process on every species).

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. 

A firefly typically lives for approximately two months in the wild.

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)