Fireflies in Florida?! Many Florida residents have never seen a lightning bug in the Sunshine State, despite it being home to more species than any other state. In this virtual presentation, Richard Joyce will explore firefly natural history and conservation, with a focus on the species found in Florida and special attention to the Florida intertidal firefly, an imperiled species that may be awaiting discovery in Palm Beach County. Learn about the threats to fireflies and how they can be addressed. Finally, the presentation will introduce viewers to the activity of “fireflying” and provide an invitation to participate in the Firefly Atlas, a community science project of the Xerces Society.

About the Presenter

Richard Joyce is an endangered species conservation biologist at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, whose mission is to protect the natural world by conserving invertebrates and their habitats. Before joining the Xerces Society three years ago, Richard worked at The Nature Conservancy in Maine, the Maine Natural Areas Program, and Congaree National Park. He currently resides in Amherst, Massachusetts, but has made annual trips to Florida for firefly fieldwork.

Learn more here:

Xerces Society (https://xerces.org/)
Firefly Atlas (https://www.fireflyatlas.org/)