The Firefly Family Tree: Jefferey and Louisa Discover Vermont's Glowing Relatives

Summer evenings in Vermont have long been illuminated by one of nature's most enchanting spectacles—the flashing courtship displays of fireflies. To many of us, these tiny beetles are a cherished childhood memory, transforming fields, forests, and wetlands into living constellations. Yet few people realize that Vermont is home to many different species of fireflies, each with its own preferred habitat, unique flash pattern, and fascinating life history.

In this story, meet Jefferey and Louisa, two young Ignited Fireflies who are curious about their remarkable extended family. As their mother introduces them to cousins that glow, cousins that don't glow, tree-dwellers, marsh specialists, and even a few deceptive "femme fatales," readers will discover the surprising diversity of Vermont's fireflies. Along the way, the family also reflects on a troubling reality: today's summer nights are much darker—not because the stars have faded, but because there are fewer fireflies to light the landscape.

Although Jefferey and Louisa are fictional characters, the firefly species, their habitats, flash patterns, and the conservation challenges they face are based on what we know about Vermont's remarkable firefly fauna. Their story reminds us that with a little help from all of us, future generations may once again experience summer nights filled with the magical glow of these extraordinary insects.

The young Firefly Family seeks their family roots and new friends

Jefferey and Louisa (Ignited Fireflies) were born in an open pasture or field in Vermont. They exhibit a bright yellow-green mating flash. They both noticed that some other fireflies exhibited a different lantern flash pattern, and still others did not flash at all. 

Some of their Little Gray cousins were born above lawns and forest floors. The males flash a single 1/4-second yellow-green light every three seconds while cruising about four feet above lawns and forest floors.

Their neighbor, whom they call Mr. Mac, and his family were born in the soil and damp leaf litter near river valleys, floodplains, and forests alongside streams. Mr. Mac has a 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

Their best friend, Murky Flash-train, was born in marshy, permanently wet areas—such as sphagnum bogs and low-lying pastures. His display flashes 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 respond with a specific "double flash”.

They asked their mom about the rest of the family and where they all came from. She told them:

"The most common ancestors in the neighborhood (Common Eastern Fireflies) were born in moist, shaded soil, leaf litter, or under rotting wood. The males emit 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. 

Similarly, the Fairchilds family, Cape Breton Fireflies were born in damp, moist soil and on the damp ground near streams, marshes, and woodlands. Known to use aggressive mimicry to lure in and prey upon the males of other species of fireflies. They are 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.

The Say’s fireflies were born in damp soil or moss in marshes, wetlands, and damp forested areas. They exhibit a warm amber or yellow-orange glow. Pattern: Rapid, short flashes emitted while flying low to the ground. As larvae, they eat snails, slugs, and soft-bodied insects. Adults do not eat; they consume only water or nectar. Their rapid, flickering orange flash distinguishes them."

Looking up, she said, " You might see the Creekside Tree Blinker clan. They were born in deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forest environments, as their mother laid her eggs in the damp cracks of tree bark. As larvae, they feed on snails. 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."

"Spring Tree-Top Flasher fireflies were born in moist deciduous forests, field margins, and woodland edges across eastern North America, and were born in leaf litter and damp soil. Active from dusk into the night, easily distinguished by a raised ridge down their head shield. They emit an amber-colored flicker.

Marsh Gray fireflies hatch and develop in wetland habitats just below the damp surface of the ground, in moss, or within leaf litter. As larvae, they hunt for snails and small insects.

Your distant cousins, the Pennsylvania Fireflies, were born directly in the soil, leaf litter, and rotting wood of the forest floor in damp soil. 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.

And that, Jeffery and Louisa, is just my side of the family. We are all lantern blinkers. On your dad’s side of the family (the ones with no working lanterns), there is the Black firefly family. They were born in decaying wood, rotting logs, and moist forest floors. In their larval stage, they were bioluminescent. All firefly (or lightning bug) larvae in Vermont are bioluminescent.

Dotted fireflies were born (hatch) in the soil, under rotting logs, or beneath leaf litter. Mated females lay their spherical eggs in these damp, shady forest microhabitats.

Silent Firefly, your Dad’s cousin, was born in moist soil and deep leaf litter.

Your Uncle Winter Firefly is typically found in woodlands on the bark of trees like oak and hickory. He is sometimes called a "Sap-Bucket" Beetle: Because he is active during early thaws, and frequently crawls into maple sap buckets, giving him the nickname "sap-bucket beetle”."

Both Jeffery and Louisa wanted to ask a more delicate question, but were not sure how to begin. Louisa finally lit up the room with the question. “Mom, what was dating like in your time? It seems like there are not many dating opportunities these days.”

Their mom recognized the delicacy of the question. She responded by relaying some of her memories. 

"I recall when there were so many males, the sky looked like it was on fire, like there were a million lightning strikes simultaneously every minute at night. The flashes outnumbered the stars. Even the yards and fields were transformed into a shimmering, bioluminescent sea of yellow and green. People did not need flashlights to see in the dark - we lit up the night for them. Even the moon had a hard time competing with our glow. We fireflies swarmed in large numbers, no longer seen today. Children used to try to catch some of us, to place us in jars as though they had captured a star." 

Jeffery asked, "Why are there so few of us today?"

Their mom replied, "The reasons for our species decline include:

Light Pollution

Habitat Destruction

Pesticides and Chemicals 

and

Climate Change.

We use specific, species-dependent flash patterns to communicate. Artificial streetlights, security lights, and skyglow drown out these subtle flashes. Males cannot properly identify a female's response flash, or vice versa. Many artificial lights—especially LED and blue-rich lights—not only disrupt vision but can trigger cellular stress and shorten our lifespans. Artificial light interferes with a firefly’s natural navigation, making it harder for us to hunt for food or navigate our environments." 

Jeffery sighed and asked, Isn’t there a firefly dating app? "Sorry, kiddo, no, there is no app for us. We hope that adult humans will remember the joy they experienced at night watching fireflies when they were kids, and then take action to help us."

Ways people can help fireflies.

• Provide habitat! Set aside a part of your yard or garden where things can get a little wild
• Avoid pesticide use, which can kill fireflies and their prey or degrade habitat
• Turn off your outdoor lights at night, especially during the summer firefly season
• Contribute to our collective firefly knowledge by participating in a community science project and posting observations of fireflies on iNaturalist. 
• Spread the word and let others know about fireflies and their needs. 

"Never give up and do your best", their mom said with loving care. "As long as there are some flickers of life left, there is some hope we can once again thrive and share our night lights with the young and young at heart."