Fireflies are one of Mother Nature's most spectacular creations - and we have them in B.C., although you might need to travel outside of Metro Vancouver to spot them.
Typically, inky-black night skies are consumed with twinkling stars on clear summer nights, or even meteors during big showers, such as the peak of the Perseid shower in mid-August.
But these winged insects light up for a short but dazzling display during their mating period.
University of British Columbia Professor Emeritus Judith Meyers has researched several insect populations in B.C. While much of her research focused on mitigating the damage caused by insects in the province, Meyers grew up in Pennsylvania, where she was dazzled by summertime fireflies.
Unlike some mosquitoes, which may have several reproductive cycles in a year, fireflies only have one. During this time, the insects "have very limited flight activity," Meyers tells V.I.A.
"In the summer, the adults come out and do the mating flight, and the males flash their lights. If they flash their lights in the right pattern, then the male and female get together."
This flashy display isn't unlike those put on by colourful, dancing birds from the tropics, or any other male animal that puts on a showy display to attract a mate.
Researchers at the University of Florida, where fireflies are prevalent, found that each species has its preferred mating display, meaning females are on the lookout for males exhibiting different patterns and speeds. However, many prefer a "high rate" of flashing.
There are about 2,000 firefly species globally, according to National Geographic. Sadly, locals will only see a couple of them in British Columbia.
Metro Vancouverites need to take a short trip to spot fireflies
A paper from the Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia about fireflies in the province notes that 10 species have been spotted through the years. However, only two produce the bioluminescence required to light up.
Meyers says locals won't spot any of those locally.
"You will not see them in Vancouver," she notes, highlighting that they tend to emerge during the peak of summer in June through August, although this varies between species.
Here's where in B.C. researchers say to head to to see fireflies: Photuris pensylvanica, known commonly as the Pennsylvania firefly, has only been officially recorded in the southern Rocky Mountain Trench in the East Kootenay Region.
Photinus obscurellus, often called "femme fatale" fireflies, are more widespread, with sightings throughout the northeast, central, and southern interior of the province. These are commonly spotted in marshy areas.
Fireflies have a short-lived adult stage
Fireflies are a type of beetle and go through four life stages, including egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Some species complete a life cycle within a few months, while others take several years. Most have carnivorous larvae that eat snails, slugs, and dead insects, but glow to alert potential predators that they won't taste very nice.
Their flashy flight time is comparatively short-lived, with the adults of many species living only weeks up to two months.
So, if you're headed out of Vancouver over the summer in B.C., you might want to check out some off-the-beaten-path, marshy areas. You never know what little beings might be flickering in the perfect dark.
