Event Name: Speaker Series: The Wondrous World of Fireflies
Event Date(s): Wednesday, 5/14/2025, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM, 1 hour, 30 minutes
Ages Allowed: 16 - 99
Purchase Deadline: Wednesday, 5/14/2025 7:00 PM
For centuries, the beauty of fireflies has evoked wonder and delight. Yet for most of us, fireflies remain shrouded in mystery: How do fireflies make their light?

An Evening Lecture with Biologist Sara Lewis, Co-Hosted by Grow Native Massachusetts
Wednesday, May 14 | 7–8:30 PM

Fireflies have long captivated us with their magical summer glow—but what are they really saying with their flashes? And how do they choose a mate?

Join us for a special evening with Sara Lewis, Professor Emerita of Biology at Tufts University and author of Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies. With over 30 years of research spanning the meadows of New England to the mangroves of Malaysia, Lewis shares the fascinating science behind these charismatic insects—from glowing courtship signals and deceptive flashes to wind-borne perfumes and flightless glow-worms.

Discover the latest insights into firefly behavior, their incredible diversity, and the urgent conservation challenges they face—from habitat loss to light pollution. This engaging lecture will rekindle your sense of wonder and offer practical ways to support firefly populations close to home.

Member Adult: FREE | Non-Member Adult: FREE (Pre-registration required)
Add a Book: $30 (Members & Non-Members)
(Reserved copies of Silent Sparks will be provided at the presentation.)



Photo credit: Terry Priest

Meet Your Speaker:
Sara Lewis is a biologist and professor emerita at Tufts University who has spent the past thirty years studying firefly behavior, ecology, and evolution.  Professor Lewis is the author of Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies.  She has given a TED talk and her work has been featured in Scientific American, Undark, and National Wildlife.  Currently, she coordinates global firefly conservation efforts as the co-chair of the IUCN Firefly Specialist Group.

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