Netta Dorchin's lab
Ella Fishman
MSc
Fireflies are some of the most charismatic beetles, with bioluminescent displays that make them a flagship group for insect conservation efforts. No comprehensive study has ever been conducted on fireflies in Israel and very little is known about the identity of local species, their distribution and life history. My research focuses on the taxonomy of Israeli fireflies, their distribution ranges and how they are influenced by light pollution. For this purpose I use citizen science data, field surveys throughout the country, and data from the lampyrid collection in the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History. Taxa will be identified and characterized by morphological and genetic tools, with an attempt to associate the larval and adult stages within species. Survey data and field experiments will be used to explore how light pollution influences firefly presence and behavior in Israel.