Synchronous Fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains

[The Lone Ranger]

Male Synchronous Fireflies (Photinus carolinus) will frequently synchronize their flashing patterns, as the name implies. When there are enough of them in an area, it's a truly astonishing sight to see hundreds fireflies flashing in synchrony.

Unfortunately, they only do this for a period of about 2 weeks near the beginning of June. One of the best places to witness a display is in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The display is so popular that the park holds a lottery each year, to determine who gets to come and see the display. (I've never won, alas.)

This year, because of the pandemic, they're going to have a "Virtual Fireflies Event" on YouTube instead. It will be tonight (June 1st) at 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Hopefully, the weather and the fireflies cooperate!

[JoeP]

*checks*
1am UK time.

[JoeP]

Also, "Synchronous Fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains" sounds like a surprisingly successful adaptation of the bestselling novel they said couldn't be filmed.

[beyelzu]

Thank you for the heads up, I was just lamenting they other day that I missed fireflies.


I’m excited

[vremya]

I miss fireflies - we had them every summer where I grew up, but they're really rare here.

[The Lone Ranger]

Well, it was kind of disappointingly brief, but nonetheless worth seeing!

[beyelzu]

There were a variety of good shots, but I agree that I could still be happily watching them.