SCFC represented at Congaree National Park’s synchronous firefly event
by Assistant Environmental Education Coordinator Shelby Bentley
Congaree National Park in Hopkins, SC, is home to longleaf pine savannahs, the largest remaining tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the U.S. and a population of synchronous firefly species, Photuris frontalis. Of the approximately 170 firefly species in North America, only three are known to exhibit this synchronous flashing behavior.
Every May the park hosts a lottery-based viewing event for these bright beetles during their peak activity season.
Due to the popularity of the event, the park also invites exhibitors from nonprofit, state and federal agencies to share their work and mission with patrons prior to the viewing time.
South Caroina Forestry Commission personnel participated as exhibitors for every night of the eight-night event.
At the Forestry Commission table, visitors could pick up publications highlighting landowner services, SCFC careers, industry statistics and facts, fire safety and more.
Many visitors enjoyed playing our guess that pinecone game by matching five pinecones to photos of their respective trees and needles.
Over the course of the event, SCFC staff had a total of 268 visitor interactions.
Thanks for sharing our mission with this year’s lucky firefly lottery winners!
If you are interested in participating next year, contact Assistant Environmental Education Coordinator Shelby Bentley at sbentley@scfc.gov to be added to an interest list!