This Firefly Phenomenon In Indiana Will Enchant You In The Best Way Possible

Let's be real for a second: there are some super-fun "official state things" out there, like the official state pie of Indiana (yum) or the officially-official term for us ("Hoosiers"). But did you know that some of these official state things are things like flowers, stones, trees, birds, songs... the list goes on? It's true, and I'd like to take a second to give a shout-out to our state insect: the firefly! Fireflies in Indiana are as sure a thing in the summer as humidity and warm weather, but up until 2018, Indiana was one of three states that didn't have an official state bug. These beautiful little fairy bugs officially became our state insect on March 23, 2018, and it's just about the time of year when you'll begin seeing them out and about.

More specifically, the official Indiana state insect is the Say's Firefly.

This firefly is native to Indiana and the United States; interestingly, many states have state insects that are not native to them, but that's not the case here! This little guy is all ours.

The species is even named after a Hoosier.

His name was Thomas Say, and he was - is - considered the "founding father" of North American entomology, and he's also often called the father of American zoology. What an interesting honor! If I could have anything named after me, a species of firefly would be pretty cool. He "discovered" this species in 1826.

...at least I think so, anyway. `

But I digress; it's the perfect time of year to get outside in the nighttime and witness the magical firefly phenomenon of Indiana for yourself.

So, where and when are the best times to witness fireflies in Indiana?

There are about 43 species of Indiana fireflies, which means there are plenty of little guys to watch during these warm summer nights (though only 31 of those 43 species produce light thanks to bioluminescence - there's still no shortage). Some have a yellow flash, some have a green flash, and the Say's Firefly has an amber flash.

Say's Fireflies emerge during early May, and they'll be out illuminating the night until at least mid-July.

The best time to see them is right around dusk, though some will continue to flicker well into the night. You'll have the best luck if you wander through the woods, or if you visit a pond or other body of water.

Oh, and fun fact: technically, these little guys aren't flies at all - they're beetles.

But beetle, fly, or whatever the little guy, I just think they're neat... and I think you will, too, if you go out and really appreciate them!

Interested in learning more about fireflies in Indiana? Check out the official Indiana Department of Natural Resources website; you'll get plenty more info from there. If you can't seem to get enough natural wonders in your life (same), you might also want to check out some of the best natural wonders in Indiana.