Rare look of fireflies that blink in unison in a forest without tourists

[FfFfFfFF 58,060]

In Congaree National Park, South Carolina, fireflies have a seemingly magical talent: Lighting up in a synchronized display, pulsating in near-unison in the dark forest during a brief window in late spring.

These fireflies are known as snappy syncs (Photuris frontalis) for their fast, coordinated signals. Out of 125 firefly species in North America, they are one of a handful that can display in a synchronized fashion.

The males blink out their signals while perched in short vegetation or while flying low, emitting quick bursts of bioluminescent light in the hopes of attracting females. But the behavior remains poorly understood.

In 2019, more than 12,000 people came to watch this incredible biological phenomenon, says David Shelley, chief of resource stewardship and science at Congaree. But this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the park's annual festival was cancelled. The absence of people offers researchers a rare look at the insects in Congaree and beyond, providing data in a pristine state that might not be possible again.

Moreover, fireflies can breed this summer without interference from light pollution and disturbance in forests around the country—likely serving as a boon to the insects, many of which are declining across their range.

To record and study the bioluminescent creatures during this unusual moment in time, a team of researchers and National Geographic Explorer Mac Stone spent more than a week in Congaree in mid-May.

“We’re pretty hopeful that it is some of the most natural data we can get in terms of them not being [influenced] by people,” says Julie Hayes, a researcher in ecology at University of Colorado-Boulder.

 

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/06/synchronous-fireflies-rare-look-congaree-national-park/

[sarahb 17,185]

Oh nice. I had fireflies in my backyard once they were really pretty 

[Chromatica Island 8,517]

I thought it was going to be about house flies lmao, I was going to freak out freak out freak out

[Chromatica Island 8,517]

My area is always covered with fire flies, I live in a fairly rural area

[DC 25,164]

Ou!!! This would look AMAZING for the Past The Stars music video...

[RAMROD 116,994]

And suddenly I heard the forgotten tunes from 2008 again in my mind when seeing these pics.

https://youtu.be/ytBR7ET_6uU

 

[Renie 7,909]

Now can we get them to blink to the tune of Chromatica