Clemson Asks Public to Help Count Fireflies

Clemson University is asking the public's help in conducting a firefly census this weekend to help researchers determine the impacts of urban development and to study lightning bug population trends.

"We need you, the citizen scientists, to participate and help with collecting the data," said biogeochemist Alex Chow, who is working with entomologist Juang-Horng "JC" Chong on Clemson's Vanishing Firefly Project.

The statewide census is scheduled for Saturday, June 1.

Here's what to do: Simply go to any dark location between 8:15-10:15 p.m. on June 1 and count the number of firefly flashes for exactly one minute. 

For more info, click here.

When counting the lightning bugs, participants are asked to keep track of the different types of flashes they see then submit the info using the custom designed Apple app (for iPhone, ipod Touch, and iPad) or at the project's website.

You may conduct several counts, but Clemson asks that the counts be conducted at different locations, and only on the prescribed date and during the prescribed time period.