#forestcounty

Drove out to the Allegheny National Forest for the 6th Annual Pennsylvania Firefly Festival, which “coincides with the mating displays of over fifteen different species of firefly in the Allegheny National Forest area including the Synchronous firefly and the unique "Chinese Lantern" firefly along the Tionesta Creek.”

The festival is held on the grounds of a bed and breakfast, and during the day features live music, food trucks, gift vendors, and informational displays, where I learned that fireflies:

- spend up to 2 years in the ground as larvae, and eat other insects, snails and worms.

- become adults and mate for about 1 month.

- like moist, tall grass habitats, where the males fly up high, and the females lay low.

- have different blinking patterns depending on their specific species. One species flies in the “J” shape!

- come out at night when temperatures are above 65 degrees.

We signed up for an evening hike along the Tionesta Creek.  Unfortunately, the rain and low temperatures kept the usual heavy firefly activity lower than usual. So we danced in the black light tent.