Bioluminescent fireflies (family: Lampyridae) are well-known in the eastern and southern United States. However, it is commonly believed that they are not found west of the Rocky Mountains. Thanks to natural history collections, flashing fireflies have been documented in Utah since at least 1922 when a female Pyractomena dispersa was collected next to Utah Lake by E. P. Van Duzee on June 25th 1922. Since this time a handful of others have documented populations of this species around the northern portion of Utah. Other examples include personal accounts from locals having seen them in Northeastern Utah and reported to the Natural History Museum of Utah's entomology collections manager.
From the occurrence data, it appears these insects inhabit marshy, or spring-fed, areas. However, very little is known concerning their specific habitat preferences (e.g., plant composition), nor do we know their distribution, seasonality, diel patterns, flash pattern, conservation threats, or the taxonomic distribution of flashing fireflies. Of great interest is whether populations are affected by light pollution, for instance. A critical step to addressing these questions is to locate populations of fireflies across Utah, document their seasonality and collect specimens. This documentation has largely eluded academic and professional entomologists due to the insects' short adulthood and widespread range. The power of networked community science was leveraged to fill in the gaps.
Results/Conclusions
Using a variety of public communication techniques to reach statewide audiences, and developing a simple web form for reporting, we have received over four hundred reports in five years (2014-2019) and have been able to document credible firefly populations in 26 of the 29 counties of Utah. With a robust and dedicated volunteer program, this has also resulted in the acquisition of dozens of research specimens. Certain research data deficits are well-filled by public input and can boost research efforts, saving years of unproductive search time. These include cryptic localities that are known to rural communities but not necessarily researchers, short conspicuous life cycles, charismatic taxa that hold public interest and obvious taxa that are easily identified by non-researchers. In addition to data and specimen acquisition, the research team is building relationships and inviting laypeople to be part of science. The strategy will be expanded to adjacent states in 2020 and beyond.