Help science by looking for fireflies

Do you remember chasing fireflies when you were young?

Back when you were adventurous and invincible, and bugs were as fascinating and precious as fairies, rather than a nuisance to be squashed. Back when you didn’t care about running barefoot through the grass, and the Big Dipper poured starlight down on you from a clear summer sky. Back when cupping this little beetle with its flashing behind in your palms was the most magical thing you’d ever seen.

Firefly. Lightning bug. Glow worm. Whatever you call it, this glowing bug plays a role in many people’s cherished childhood memories. And just like our memories, fireflies may become a thing of the past.

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources says that firefly populations are declining in our state. The up to 40 different species (yes, you read that correctly) that call West Virginia home have seen declining numbers due to habitat loss, pesticides and other factors, such as light pollution.

So the WVDNR has offered to deputize us all as citizen scientists in an effort to track what remains of the firefly population. So shine up your star-shaped badge and holster your tablet, because it’s time for an adventure.

The process is more involved than you might initially expect, but we’re about to become citizen scientists, after all. For more information, visit https://wvdnr.wordpress.com/2020/07/17/ and click on the linked headline. To go straight to the firefly tracking survey, visit www.wvdnr.gov/fireflies. You can fill out the survey online or you can download the app on your smartphone or tablet for real-time field notes.

The survey asks you for specific information, so WVDNR officials can tell where the fireflies are and what kind of fireflies are there. As we mentioned earlier, there are multiple species of fireflies, and they can be identified by the color and pattern of their flashes. There’s a booklet called Lantern Beetles by Pam Kasey (https://www.wonderfulwv.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Archive/Jul2016-2.pdf) that might help get you started. Kasey discusses the three main types of fireflies and what distinguishes them from each other.

The WVDNR survey is going to ask specific questions to help narrow down the type of firefly you’re seeing. It will want to know your exact location and the time period you spent firefly stalking. You’ll be asked about glow colors and flashing patterns. It will ask how much “dark time” there is between flashes. It will ask if the flickers and flashes you see are down in the grass or high in the trees or places in between. It will want to know if the flashing is synchronized — lots of fireflies flashing at the same time or very close together.

Overall, it’s a little more complicated than dropping a pin at your location on Google maps and saying, “Yep, I saw a firefly.” But this can be an amazing learning opportunity for kids and adults alike. It can be a family-bonding experience or an excuse to spend a beautiful summer evening outside. And you’ll always be able to puff out your chest in pride, knowing you helped with firefly conservation efforts.