The 12th Annual PA Firefly Festival, June 28 and June 29, 2024: Six months and counting!

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Six months and counting!

The Holidays are over and the countdown begins for the 5th Annual PAFF. We have already started planning and a lot of changes are in store.

Parking area has been expanded and a $5 per car donation will be collected
Pre-registration for the free ticketed firefly walks will be required
VIP packages for guided interpretive walks will be available the night of the festival for a donation to PAFF
Due to the festival's popularity, we have discontinued on-site camping. We are working on a local alternative
Nightly guided walks will be available starting June 16 - July 1 for a donation to PAFF

Our goal this year is to preserve both the firefly habitat and the observer's experience. We hope that through enacting some limits, we will help to control the crowds while protecting the firefly habitats in our area. We appreciate your enthusiasm and hope you will cooperate with us in following the new procedures.

We will keep you informed of all the details and the firefly activity as we get closer to June. Check the website pafireflyfestival.org or the Facebook page. You can also register to receive the PAFF newsletter by subscribing on the website.

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Firefly Speak

A GLOSSARY OF FIREFLY TERMS

ABDOMEN The third and last section of an insect body. Fireflies have their light organs located in their abdomen.

COLEOPTERA The classification name (Order) for the insects known as beetles. Fireflies belong to this Order.

DIURNAL Active during the daylight hours. As opposed to nocturnal. Some firefly species are diurnal.

ECLOSE to emerge, as when an adult FF emerges from the pupa cocoon.

ELYTRON (plural – elytra) The hard wing cover that protects the firefly wings. Elytra are a shared characteristic with all beetles.

ENTOMOLOGY The study of insects.

LAMPYRIDAE - The classification name (Family) of beetles that include the fireflies. Over 2000 species of Lampyridae are known in the world.

PHEROMONE A chemical released in the air by insects to attract mates. Some firefly species use pheromones instead of light signals for mating.

PRONOTUM A shield-like plate that covers the head of fireflies.

THORAX The middle section of an insect body.

Synchronous Fireflies and more

The Photinus carolinus, aka as the "Synchronous Firefly", was identified and confirmed to be in the Allegheny National Forest during the summer of 2012. A team of world-class Firefly scientists from Tennessee and Georgia came to Black Caddis Ranch for 10 days, and traveled throughout the ANF collecting specimens and studying the diversity of fireflies.

The P. carolinus is unique in that the males' flash patterns are in synchrony with each other, so they appear to be like a string of Christmas lights hanging in the forest. Other witnesses have likened it to camera flashbulbs at a sporting event. One of the other confirmed habitats in North America is in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee where 1000s of visitors line up nightly for 10 nights to see this phenomenon. More populations are being confirmed each year stretching from Georgia to New York along the Appalachian Ridge. The Synchronous fireflies are in abundance throughout the Allegheny National Forest and can be seen in the ANF recreation areas starting mid-June through early July.

Over 15 different species were identified and described along with the Synchronous. One other local species was a Photuris species dubbed the"Chinese Lanterns" by the scientists. These were observed floating across the Tionesta creek casting their glow onto the water.

Starting around July 4 to the middle of August, the "Big Dipper", Photinus pyralis, begin their displays in the fields and yards all over NW PA. They can put on quite a natural fireworks show from dusk around 9 pm to 9:45 pm. Whichever species you witness during the approximately 4-6 week season, you can be sure to have a moment of awe and wonder at this display of nature.

The season is highly dependent on weather and temperatures. We watch several different factors (both scientific hard data and "soft signs"). Follow us on Facebook for updates as the season begins and progresses in 2022.

The 12th Annual PA Firefly Festival, June 28 and June 29, 2024

When is the PA Firefly Festival?

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Six months and counting!

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2013 Synchronous Display

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