Fireflies Are Thriving at a Northern Colorado Marsh

While fireflies do exist in Colorado, they are not seen as frequently as in other places in the eastern part of the country. Researchers currently know of at least one native species of lightning bug in the Centennial State, but it's a non-glowing kind, which explains why they're rarely observed.

Recently, however, an abundance of these illuminated insects has been discovered at a small marsh in Larimer County. Since this is so uncommon, researchers are taking full advantage to study these elusive insects. According to 9News, back in June, crews from Colorado's Butterfly Pavilion collected 50 fireflies from a marshland in Larimer County. The exact location of the marsh has been left unidentified, but a permit is required to access the site.

This unexpected phenomenon has raised questions about the reasons behind the sudden presence of fireflies in this region. Biologists are trying to figure out why the fireflies are thriving in select areas of the state, but not others.

Scientists hope to learn more through the bugs that were collected in Larimer County and are also trying to breed these 40 males and 10 females for research at the pavilion.

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Colorado State University Entomologist Tristan Darwin Kubik says that during the summer, fireflies in Fort Collins can often be seen at Riverbend Ponds Natural Area and Reservoir Ridge Natural Area. Loveland's Morey Wildlife Reserve is another place to see these flickering insects. The Coloradoan explained that mid-June to mid-July is the best time for viewing fireflies in Northern Colorado. You may not be able to collect an entire jar full like the can in places like Ohio or Pennsylvania, but it's still cool to watch these glowing insects up close.

A Colorado resident confirms that another great spot to get a glimpse of lots of these glowing bugs is during the summertime at Valley Vista Hot Springs. This remote area is part of the Orient Land Trust in Moffat.

Through the Firefly Life Cycle Project, Colorado's Butterly Pavilion is making major efforts to help expand the populations of fireflies within the state. In 2017, the organization began breeding them under human care. During the process, the pavilion has reared larvae from the resulting eggs produced by the females. The ultimate vision is to rear those larvae to adulthood and continue the cycle, with a long-term goal to rear the young past their vulnerable early stages and release larger individuals. This will help create or restore new populations in the Colorado wild.

Fireflies can play a crucial role in Colorado's ecosystems, both as pollinators and indicators of environmental health, so it's important to keep them around. Unfortunately,  firefly populations are declining across the country. Colorado residents and nature enthusiasts are encouraged to participate in observing and recording firefly sightings, which contributes valuable data to ongoing research efforts within the state.