Courtesy of Visit Mississippi
Central Mississippi is one of the only places on the continent where you can see synchronous fireflies during their mating season.
Every year, tens of thousands of people across the United States throw their hats in the ring for the rare opportunity to witness one of nature’s most enchanting phenomena: the perfectly choreographed light show of the synchronous firefly.
Of the more-than-2,000 species of firefly, only three are dubbed “synchronous,” meaning their blinking patterns coordinate with each other in a general pattern of six flashes, six seconds apart. While scientists have yet to firmly determine the reason for this behavior, theories suggest it may be a maneuver by males to deliver, en masse, a sort of morse code mating song to attract nearby females.
Two of these species live in the Southeastern region of the United States. The most famous places to see their eerily beautiful displays, which occur in late May to early June, are in the dense, unadulterated forests of our national parks—namely the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina, and Congaree National Park in South Carolina.
For years, thousands of firefly tourists would flock to these sites, set up camp, and stomp through the woods with their flashlights—unwittingly disturbing not only the fireflies, but other flora and fauna. As a matter of preservation, both national parks have now implemented competitive lotteries, only letting around 150 people in each night during the peak glow period. Most years, around 20,000–30,000 people apply to each park, hoping for a chance to witness the wonder.
But there is another, lesser-known place to see these mesmerizing insects at the height of their magic: Central Mississippi. In the remote, wooded areas around Jackson and Ridgeland, these “Snappy Syncs” have drawn a far more intimate collective of twinkle-chasers that have yet to require large-scale mitigation efforts like the national park lotteries. These quieter locations offer a more accessible opportunity to see the spectacle just a few hours from home. (It hardly needs to be said, but let’s keep it that way by treating these natural environments, and the bugs who brought us there, with respect. Limit flashlight use and phone glow, avoid using insect repellent, leave no trace, and let the fireflies be.)
On May 15, the Craftsman’s Guild of Mississippi will host a “Snappy Sync Soiree” to kick off the firefly mating season, which will culminate in a guided viewing on the Natchez Trace Parkway, lasting from 6 pm–9:30 pm. Guests will also enjoy music and refreshments; all at the Bill Waller Crafts Center in Ridgeland. $40. From May 16–18, the Guild will continue to host twenty-minute Firefly Tours led by Mississippi Master Naturalists. Tours begin at 9 pm and are $8 per person. Details at mscrafts.org.
You can also view the fireflies at Wall Doxey State Park nearby, which is home to eight species of firefly—including one discovered there, the Photuris walldoxeyi. Guided synchronous firefly tours will take place the last weekend of May; 8:30 pm each night. $6. Details at (662) 252-4231 or mdwfp.com.
