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Can Scientists Save the Bethany Beach Firefly from Extinction?

A rare photuris bethaniensis, known as the Bethany Firefly, captured by Jason Davis who’s performing a survey of the species along the coast of Southern Delaware.
Kimberly Paynter
/
WHYY
A rare photuris bethaniensis, known as the Bethany Firefly, captured by Jason Davis who’s performing a survey of the species along the coast of Southern Delaware.

Catching fireflies is a summertime tradition. But that late-night pastime could become a thing of the past, as firefly populations are declining. In Bethany Beach, Delaware, a species native to the area is facing the same threat.

WHYY’s Zoe Read spent a night finding out why conservationists want it listed under the Endangered Species Act.

(Original air-date: 8/23/22)

Zoë Read is WHYY’s watershed reporter. She joined WHYY in 2015 as a multimedia reporter covering Delaware news for the web and FM.