2019 Firefly Season Updates

June 1st kicks off the 2019 Firefly Season in Forest County.  We are so excited for another amazing season and looking forward to the many firefly activities, programs, research, films, photography, art, music, and of course, the 7th Annual Festival on June 22.  We have been blessed with dozens of great volunteers, friends and family who are working hard to make this the best season and festival ever.  We have also been honored by all the grant funding from Forest County Tourism, J. Bowman Proper Trust, Huplits Wildlife Foundation, Plimsoll, Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts and Bridge Builders.  We are also grateful for the individual donations and over 400 who have preregistered for all the guided firefly expeditions.

The Spring Newsletter was sent to our subscribers in May, so if you are not a subscriber, click here for all the news and the events that are taking place throughout Forest County and beyond.  However, you will want to subscribe to get the future quarterly editions.  Our subscribers will benefit from early notice of the opening of the registration for the 2020 PAFF and the links to the ticketing website.

The fireflies of Forest County are attracting more than ecotourists.  We have been the focus of some of the top firefly scientists since 2011.  This year, Tufts University has sent researchers to Forest County. The Tufts' Team Firefly led by Ms. Avalon Owens, Ph.D. candidate, is residing here in Kellettville through July.  Owens and her student team Caroline Dressler, Tufts U;  PAFF Summer Intern, Morgan Silvis, Penn State, and  PAFF Festival Intern, Belle Ralston of Forest Area Schools, will be studying the effects of Artificial Light (ALAN) on the fireflies of Forest County.  You may see them in the area collecting fireflies for her experiment, and visitors to the festival will have a chance to see how the field experiments are being conducted and talk with the Team about their research.  These young women are very knowledgeable and so enthusiastic about the fireflies.
So far, the firefly season is developing at the usual pace.  We are noting some of the early-emerging species in the trees, perhaps pyractomena,  and a male photuris was collected last night.  The rain and warm nights are ideal for fireflies.  As long as the temperatures don't dip into the 50s, we expect we will start seeing the emergence of more within the next week to 10 days.

We encourage you to watch and observe the fireflies in your neighborhoods, forests and fields.  If you have fireflies, it is a good sign that your environment is healthy and well balanced.  The firefly is known as an "indicator" species, like the proverbial canary in the mine.  If you don't have fireflies (and you live in this part of the country), then there's some reason, and you should be concerned.  It could be a red flag that your habitat is compromised due to pesticides, lawn treatments or lack of adequate suitable vegetation, water pollution and/or light pollution. 

Here are some important firefly watching tips:

• Wear protective clothing including sturdy footwear, boots are recommended, long sleeves and pants
• Cover flashlights with a red filter, or better yet, let your eyes adjust and don't use any light.
• Stay on the path or paved sidewalk.  Watch where you step. Adult females and larva may be on the path or ground where you are walking or standing.  The females' flash and larva glow, but it is dim and you may not see them especially if you are using a flashlight.
• Don't wear bug spray if you want to catch fireflies
• Use a butterfly net
• Include a damp paper towel or a small slice of apple in the jar
• Catch and release the lightning bugs in the same area you caught them later that night

We hope you get a chance to get out and enjoy Summer's Dazzling Gift of Fireflies this season.