Little Creatures: Events, Activities & Art Exhibit
Little Creatures: Fireflies' Fantasia - Illuminating the Mysteries of Living Lights in Colorado and Beyond
Step into the fascinating world of fireflies, guided by scientists Orit Peleg from the University of Colorado Boulder and Lorna McCallister from Butterfly Pavilion, as they embark on a thrilling exploration that reveals the dazzling light displays of these luminous creatures. In this immersive experience, the research team, leveraging cutting-edge technology, will decipher the intriguing puzzle of flash synchronization, capturing the ephemeral glow of fireflies to offer deep insights into their magnificent and complex synchronized dance. Their findings showcase the interconnected fabric of our world, where these small creatures mirror the majesty of astronomical phenomena through their coordinated luminescence. An important focus of this public lecture will be to debunk the misconception that fireflies are not found in Colorado. They will provide an overview of ongoing initiatives that monitor local firefly populations and breed the descendants of wild Colorado fireflies in their laboratory. This groundbreaking research aims to gain a deeper understanding of these extraordinary beetles and develop best-practice guidelines for future conservation endeavors.
About Dr. Orit Peleg: Dr. Orit Peleg is an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and External Faculty at the Santa Fe Institute. Her interdisciplinary lab is focused on understanding the generation and interpretation of biological communication signals using firefly and bee swarms as model systems. Dr. Peleg's multidisciplinary background includes a Bachelor's degree in physics and computer science, a PhD in materials science, and postdoctoral experience in chemistry and applied mathematics. Her work has been featured in various prominent outlets such as the New York Times, National Public Radio, Smithsonian magazine, and National Geographic.
About Lorna McCallister: Lorna McCallister is the Target Species Manager in the Research and Conservation Department at Butterfly Pavilion, a nonprofit invertebrate zoo in Westminster, CO. She manages Butterfly Pavilion's research and conservation projects in Colorado studying various invertebrate populations including fireflies, dragonflies, and tarantulas, and the Bees for Elephants project in Tanzania. Lorna has a Bachelor's degree in wildlife ecology and conservation, a minor in entomology, and a Master's degree in interdisciplinary ecology from the University of Florida where her Master's research focused on pollinators in southern Africa. She is also an experienced beekeeper, managing about 40 honey bee hives a year between Butterfly Pavilion and the Westminster Bee Club apiaries.