THE FIREFLY SANCTUARY at KELLETTVILLE FIREFLY FARM

Inspired by the identification over 15 species of fireflies in 2012, including the "Synchronous Fireflies" by team of international firefly researchers, we decided to host an celebratory event. In 2013, the first and only PA Firefly Festival celebrating the State's official insect began, and the world came to Kellettville by the hundreds. At first, we were delighted to host an entertaining annual event. However, as we eventually learned more about the fireflies, we grew increasingly concerned that the very thing everyone was so desperate to see was endanger.

We started by seeking the expertise of world renowned firefly researchers like author Lynn Faust who wrote Fireflies, Glow Worms and Lightning Bugs, 2017. We also met professor emeritus, Sara Lewis, PhD, Tufts University, author of Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies, 2016 and influential firefly researchers like Sarah Lower, PhD, Bucknell University and Avalon Owens, PhD, Harvard University, as well as retired museum educator, Don Salvatore, Museum of Science, Boston. All of whom we've hosted at Kellettville Firefly Farm and the festival. Some have even conducted important firefly science research and published findings in peer reviewed journals.

By 2020, we were keenly aware that we had a unique opportunity to not only celebrate fireflies, but we felt obligated to change our approach and management of the property. We needed to protect the fireflies and provide them a habitat that would sustain them for generations to come. Not only did we start making changes to how we manage the festival, we started actively managing our 18-acres as a "Firefly Sanctuary". Our friends at the Xerces Society and FireflyAtlas.org included the Kellettville Firefly Farm Sanctuary in their Guide to Establishing Firefly Sanctuaries in the United States. Read more below about how the owners of Kellettville Firefly Farm have taken steps to conserve and protect fireflies.

All photos below were taken on the property by Peggy Butler and are subject to copyright.

Fossil Creek, 2020

Forest Spirits, 2025

My Backyard, 2023

Lighted Hickory, 2025

Nature's Fireworks, 2021

Firefly Conservation at Kellettville Firefly Farm

Since 2020, the Kellettville Firefly Farm began to manage the property specifically to protect and preserve the fireflies and their habitats. The property has been certified as Firefly Habitat by Firefly.org and as a Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

Here are some steps we've taken to provide the ideal firefly habitat...

Mow less and higher when we do mow; we leave most of the hayfield to grow wild with only narrow paths through which to walk and observe fireflies
Leave the leaves: Newly hatched firefly larvae seek shelter and protection in the leaves. So we do not rake leaves until the temperatures are consistently below freezing when larvae go underground, and then we move them to forest edges to mulch them. We also don't start gardening and "wake up" flower beds until temperatures are consistently above 50˚ in the spring, so larvae can start to move and find safe places to pupate.
We do not use pesticides on our lawn, apple trees or blueberry bushes. We look to nature to take care of itself and keep it in check. Fireflies are bio-indicator species meaning if they are present then the habitat is in balance.
We plant natives and remove invasive plants whenever possible.
"Lights Out For Lightning Bugs!" With regards to outdoor lighting we adhere to the Dark Skies recommendations and CUTLoW. In other words our lighting is Controlled, Useful, Targeted, Low-level and Warm.

Fireflies are known as an "umbrella species", in other words, what we do to protect fireflies will also protect many other natural species from the smallest to the largest in that habitat. You can learn more about fireflies and how to protect them at the PAFireflyEvents.org website.

We hope you will have an opportunity to witness fireflies while you are visiting Kellettville Firefly Farm & Sanctuary. However, if you happen to be here during a season without fireflies, please know that they are always present in the habitat, and we are doing everything we can to make sure they remain healthy and happy. We hope you will join us in the effort and help fireflies thrive in your yards and gardens.