Birders, Ted Floyd recently mentioned on COBIRDS seeing fireflies (aka "lightningbugs") for the first time in CO. They are here but very local, and their populations from year to year widely fluctuate with moisture. The luminescent species of the family Lampyridae like tall, wet grass. Since this is a wet year in most areas, this is a good year to see them. The folks interested in horticultural plant management in CO (their group is called "PestServ") are wanting info on where folks are seeing fireflies this year. The person who oversees this group, entomologist Dr. Whitney Cranshaw, is accumulating locations and would also love specimens. I am willing to receive emails with locations for relay to Whitney. I would also be OK with having you send specimens that I could transfer to the collection at CSU. Regarding specimens, 5-10 individuals loosely arranged in a sealable vial or small bottle with tissue paper (so they don't rattle around in the bottle and break) would be great. A slip of paper placed into the container (or wrapped around the outside) with the following data written small and ledgibly would also be needed: date, county, nearest city/town, specific location, and collector.
My mailing address is: 612 Stover Street #7, Fort Collins, CO 80524. If you had a really good, close-up digital pic in lieu of specimens, you could send that to me at: [email protected] Thanks in advance. Dave Leatherman Fort Collins -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
