Upcoming Events
Wildflower Walk
Mockingbird Nature Park
Members of Indian Trail Master Naturalist Chapter will lead a FREE Nature Walk at 9am. Plan on about 1½ hours for this 1/2 mile walk. Closed-toed shoes, comfortable outdoor clothing, and insect repellant (if needed) are recommended.
June 19 – 9:00 am
The walk is canceled in the event of rain.
Monthly Meetings and Programs
6:00 PM – Brief Business Meeting followed by Program
July 26th
Location: ** Zoom **
Fireflies
Ben Pfeiffer
Prepare for an illuminating virtual journey through Texas. Discover the bioluminescent creatures that on most nights light up the evenings at the beginning of dusk from spring to fall. This highly educational and fun talk will discuss the types of fireflies (Lampyridae) found in Texas. Ben will present his research on Texas firefly taxa with an emphasis on fireflies that occur in nearby river basins and riparian areas. You’ll also learn why fireflies flash and how they use light to communicate to potential mates. He will show attendees how to identify Texas firefly species and discuss specific threats to why fireflies are disappearing in many areas of Texas. For the conservationist, Ben will also talk on how to create a good habitat for fireflies, plants that help them, and ways to you can help save many of the special species unique only to Texas from possible extinction.
Ben Pfeiffer is founder of Firefly Conservation & Research at Firefly.org, a firefly conservation and educational non-profit. Firefly.org is currently the internet’s most visited website about fireflies. Ben is a recognized public speaker and science educator whose research work focuses on Texas firefly species. He is working to document the state’s firefly diversity and it’s natural history regarding their life cycle, preferred habitat and unique flash patterns. His research is helping to illuminate much of this never before collected information about the state’s incredibly rich firefly diversity so that others can work to preserve and enjoy it.
He is a member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Firefly Working group. He recently completed the Red List Extinction Risk Assessments for Texas firefly species that will be published in March 2021.
Ben studied Biology at Texas State University and is a certified Master Naturalist. He is a lifelong 6th generation Texan and has spent most of his life working to understand Texas ecology and its unique diversity.
Indian Trail Chapter is part of the statewide Texas Master Naturalist Volunteer Program of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
This program is part of a series of no cost, open to the public Master Naturalist programs offered the fourth Monday (generally) of each month, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Please bring a friend! For more information, please call the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension at 972-825-5175 or contact us.
