Missouri’s Hannibal. It’s the ideal time of year to escape the heat and take in the twilight fireflies lighting up the sky.
A night stroll through Sodalis Nature Preserve is scheduled around 8 p.m. Fairies of the Night: The Magical World of Fireflies was the title of the Friday, June 27 event.
Hannibal BASF sponsors the nature program, which is provided by the Hannibal Parks & Recreation Department. With assistance from the Mississippi Hills Master Naturalists, the session will be led by nature interpreter Gale Rubee.
According to a news release from Rublee, fireflies are nature’s fairies. The Lampryidae family of beetles resembles tiny, flickering lamps that illuminate the night. They may flash signals to one another because they contain a bioluminescent chemical. Open fields, streams, and woodlands are among the habitats that different types of lighting bugs favor. Like a mystical fairyland, the ones at Sodalis illuminate the trees after dark.
The entire program lasts roughly two hours and covers a steeply inclining 2-mile paved loop. If they would want, participants can return earlier. Visit www.hannibalparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program to register.
