Virtual Firefly Festival: Firefly Conservation with Xerces Society

With help from The Xerces Society of Invertebrate Conservation, let's get to know the jewels of the night - AKA fireflies or lightning bugs.

Fireflies, lightning bugs, glow-worms - these are but a few of the names used to describe some of our most celebrated insects. Over 150 species have been described from the US, with about 20 species reported from New Jersey. Fireflies are cherished visitors on warm summer evenings, yet they appear to be in decline. Key threats to their populations include habitat loss, light pollution, and pesticide use. By understanding these threats and what fireflies need to thrive, you can play a significant role in their conservation. This webinar provides an introduction to firefly life history, discusses some of the threats they face, and outlines key steps that can be taken to protect fireflies and their habitats.

The speaker, Candace Fallon, is a senior conservation biologist at the Xerces Society, where her work focuses on the conservation of at-risk invertebrates and their habitat. In this role, she provides technical guidance to land managers, leads survey and research efforts for at-risk terrestrial and aquatic species, advocates for endangered species protections, and conducts outreach and education to engage others in invertebrate conservation. Candace leads Xerces’ firefly conservation campaign and serves as co-chair of the North American section of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Firefly Specialist Group. She is the lead author of the Xerces Society’s Conserving the Jewels of the Night: Guidelines for Protecting Fireflies in the United States and Canada.