Synchronous Fireflies

6/20/09 

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Last night, after a delicious buffet dinner in Townsend, I drove up to Elkmont, TN (in Smoky Mountain National Park) in search of the photinus Carolinus or synchronous fireflies.  I first learned of them when I was here in Townsend to play at theClemmer’s Pickin’ Porch a few years ago.  The next time I was here the same weekend.....

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The lighting of all fireflies is part of the mating ritual which happens annually around Father’s Day.  But these amazing creatures are nearly unique in the universe.  The only other group of fireflies that light up synchronously are in Southeast Asia.   Synchronous fireflies light up, just as the ones I used to chase as a child in northwest Ohio, but these fireflies light up in a visually harmonious fashion!  ....

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I’m serious, this is almost not to be believed!  As we (the Clemmers, Sharon Webber, Cherith and KatieBeth) sat in camp chairs far up along the river path that we maneuvered, waiting for dark to descend, the fireflies just flew around blinking in the expected chaotic fashion.  But, as if by pre-arranged signal, the show began:....

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All of a sudden the entire troup of fireflies began blinking in unison:  On Off On Off, On Off, On Off, for about 30 seconds….and then they stopped!  It was pitch black in the forest where we were staring.....

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After a long interval, the show began again, except this time, it was synchronized like underwater swimming, the fireflies at the left blinked first and they made a wave from left to right! Then,   Dark!....

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The next time they blinked in time with each other, but from the bottom to the top.  And so forth…....

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Just when we thought we couldn’t be amazed any more, they kept piling it on.  It was like a ballet of light!....

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As we began walking back to the parking lot, the full-moon began streaming through the trees behind the fireflies who continued to flash up and down the path, so now the “screen” had a three dimensional depth that we hadn’t seen before.  ....

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Talk about inspiring!  I played through a couple of mountain dulcimer ideas for tunes the next day, but it turns out that Mike Clemmer ended up with a great tune he calls “Applachian Lightningbug” that is recorded on he and his wife, Connie’s, CD,Homestead. 

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Well, this time, I went up alone and took a different path.  I had been cautioned that the big show had been the previous week, but I found a solitary spot along the Jake trail and sat and waited.  I could hear two streams rushing to their confluence beside the bridge that I’d walked over.....

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This time, as the solstice once again drew near, there were far fewer fireflies, so the display wasn’t like the cast of thousands I had observed before.  This time, the amazing thing was the length and strength of their lighting.  Fireflies would light up brilliantly and cast a glow upon the ground below, then hold that brightness for 8-10 seconds without a flicker!  And then a few others would join that one and when next it lit, they would too, brightly, and flying in formation, tracing arcs in front of the backdrop of darkening forest.  Still amazing!

Not the show I was expecting, but to one who seeks to be open to the unexpected, I was surprised by joy!