This webinar is part of the Virginia Master Naturalist Continuing Education webinar series for volunteers. Description: Who doesn’t love fireflies? Many of us have fond memories of catching fireflies when we were kids, or watching a magical light show on a summer evening. This webinar discusses firefly natural history, behavior, identification, and conservation. We outline useful physical and behavioral characteristics for identifying common groups of fireflies in Virginia.
Other questions discussed include:
How many firefly species are there?
Why do fireflies flash?
What do fireflies eat?
Are firefly populations declining?
Didn’t quite get your firefly fix this summer? There’s still time! We discuss how you can organize your own personal firefly safari this fall. Tune in to learn more!
Presenter: Ariel Firebaugh is a lifelong learner and explorer. As an undergraduate at Roanoke College, she spent weekends practicing German verb conjugations while hiking around the Blue Ridge Mountains. She became semi-nocturnal in graduate school studying firefly behavior at UVA’s Blandy Experimental Farm field station. She now serves as the Director of Scientific Engagement at Blandy.
Host: Michelle Prysby, Virginia Master Naturalist program director
