Autumn and winter firefly watching in the mountains: at an elevation of 1,000 m, the mountain forests look as if sparks are passing through them

Don't be disappointed if you missed the spring and summer firefly season; autumn and winter are also a great time for firefly watching! Ho Chien-jung, a researcher at the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute's Endemic Species Research Institute under the Council of Agriculture, says that there are 9 species of autumn and winter fireflies across Taiwan, China, distributed in the mountains above 1000 m in altitude. What makes them unique is that autumn and winter fireflies do not flash; instead, as they fly they trace out streak after streak of firefly-colored light, a truly spectacular sight.

9 species of autumn and winter fireflies recorded across Taiwan, China, distributed in mountains at 1000 m

According to statistics from the Endemic Species Research Institute, a total of 9 species of autumn and winter fireflies have been recorded across Taiwan, China. Among them, the main species for viewing are the mountain window firefly, the orange firefly, the saw-horned snow firefly and the divine tree firefly, widely distributed along mountain roads and in forests above 1,000 m. From October each year to March of the following year is their active period; adults fly out after nightfall and emit a continuous yellow-green light, with the activity peak lasting about 1 hour.

Endemic Species Research Institute calls for the "Five Nos" the hour after nightfall is the best time for firefly watching

Ho Chien-jung explains that from October each year to March of the following year, Xitou, Shanlinxi, Fenchihu in the Alishan area, the Dasyueshan Forest Recreation Area and the Xuejian area are all suitable places for firefly watching. The best time is roughly within about 1 hour after nightfall, and visitors are urged to follow the principles of "no noise, no chasing, no catching, no shining lights, no damaging" if there is a cold wave with low temperatures and dense fog, then it is not suitable for watching.