Firefly Charm

I didn’t join DarkSky PA expecting that it would lead me to seeing some of the prettiest fireflies on the planet. That was an added bonus.

Lucky me, being able to attend the PA Firefly Festival as a volunteer.  The festival takes place each summer outside of Tionesta, PA. It celebrates synchronous fireflies, which are only found a few places in the world.  One of them just happens to be Pennsylvania!

Imagine a clearing in a forest that’s so dark you can’t see your own hand in front of your face. This might sound frighting, but you’re safe with a few dozen other folks sitting in lawn chairs or bleachers beside you. All of you sit there quietly in the dark. Then, on one side of the clearing, a few fireflies blink on. At once, the clearing lights up in a cascading ripple as the fireflies blink on like fans doing the wave at a sporting event.  The wave of light sweeps over the clearing. Then all goes dark again. You wait, anticipating the next wave.

I grew up watching fireflies that light up randomly in my backyard. Now, as an adult, watching fireflies is a joy that I look forward to each summer. That didn’t prepare me, though, for the phenomenon of synchronous fireflies. It reminds me that hidden gems exist in nature, some of them even in our home state. There might be a firefly viewing opportunity near you.

Fireflies need the dark, of course. They flash to find mates. If there’s too much light at night, the lovers can’t find each other, and there will be no new fireflies next year.  There are at least two dozen different species in Pennsylvania. All of them are threatened by pesticides and habitat loss as well as by light pollution.  Fireflies are homebodies, which means that when a spot loses its fireflies, it can be very tricky to entice them back.  So turn off your lights and use the principles of responsible outdoor lighting to keep fireflies in PA.