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INHS Seminar - Protecting the Jewels of the Night: Firefly Biology & Conservation

Event Type
Seminar/Symposium
Sponsor
Illinois Natural History Survey Seminar Committee
Virtual
wifi event
Date
May 9, 2023   4:00 pm  
Speaker
Dr. Sara Lewis, ecologist and Professor of Biology emerita at Tufts
Contact
Sara A Johnson
E-Mail
saraaj@illinois.edu
Views
75
Originating Calendar
INHS Events

This seminar will be held virtually on Zoom here | Meeting ID: 879 2608 0994 | Password: 228523

Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are highly charismatic insects that rank among our best ambassadors for Earth’s natural magic. For centuries their ethereal beauty has sparked wonder and inspired poets, artists, and children of all ages. Fireflies have also provided fundamentally important insights into chemical ecology and sexual selection, and their bioluminescent talents have yielded valuable tools for biomedical and agricultural research. With 2200+ species worldwide, these beetles boast remarkable diversity in life history and sexual signaling modes. However, like many other insects, in many parts of the world fireflies are threatened by habitat loss, light pollution, pesticide overuse and overtourism. Beginning in 2018, a conservation partnership between the IUCN Firefly Specialist Group and The Xerces Society has been leading local, regional, and global efforts to protect these charismatic insects.

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