JENNINGSTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – After noticing a very large number of fireflies at Laurel Fork Farm, the educational farm surrounding Laurel River Club B&B, Marsha Waybright decided to learn more about these tiny creatures. She contacted the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, and her curiosity has turned into a research program beneficial to humans and “Lightning Bugs” alike.
She has noticed so many fireflies, aka lightning bugs, “that guests have started to come not only for the amazing view of the stars because of low light pollution, but also now to see the amazing light show that these little beetles put on from April, depending on temperature, through July!” she said. “We wanted to know how many species call this farm home.” But these little flashing insects are neither flies nor bugs; they are beetles. “This is why our research project will be called The Bright Beetle Project.”
Waybright is the property manager for the Laurel River Club B&B and recently hosted Mack Frantz, Ph.D., Natural Heritage Program Zoologist for the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources. Frantz, Waybright and her son Collin (known as the Laurel Fork Falconer) carefully collected specimens of each of the different species for Frantz to take back to his lab to identify. Based on his findings, he put together a report identifying the species with the possibility of many more.
In response to a significant number of B&B overnight guests commenting on the variety of fireflies they have seen, Frantz said, “We found more than six species, some of which will require some follow up trips and genetic analysis in the future to verify. One of the cool discoveries was the Cattail Flash-train Firefly (Photinus consimilis), a species complex related to synchronous fireflies.”
“This is so exciting,” Waybright said. “The more we learn about fireflies, the more questions we have!” A few weeks after the initial visit to collect fireflies, two of Frantz’s assistants, Jami Baker and Sarah Hallyburton, returned to the farm to conduct a follow-up. “The research has just begun and we hope to pick it up in the spring when the fireflies make an appearance again,” Waybright said.
Waybright will be working with the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources in the future to assist with a research project she is already working on. “We want to determine how many species call this farm home and why. We would like to know what the agricultural benefits of having a thriving firefly population on a farm are and how other farmers may also benefit from having a firefly population.”
Frantz said, “We plan to return to Marsha’s property next year at other times of the year since the flight periods for different species can change every 2-4 weeks (i.e. new species start flashing every couple of weeks from May on), so there may be other species to discover.” He said the Natural Heritage Programs keeps inventory and tracks rare wildlife in the state, including fireflies. “We will use the information to dial in on potential new locations for rare and unique species that will aid in conservation and management.”
For more information about the Bright Beetle Project and Laurel Fork Farm, or to book a stay at Laurel River Club Bed & Breakfast, please visit www.lrcbnb.com or call 304-402-7095. Find more info on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
