The Pennsylvania Firefly Festival on Saturday held the first of what could be an annual event in Franklin Township aimed at introducing people to the county's environmental features especially the synchronous firefly.

FRANKLIN TWP — The Pennsylvania Firefly Festival on Saturday held the first of what could be an annual event aimed at introducing people to the county's environmental features especially the synchronous firefly.

The festival originated in 2013 and is based in Kellettville in Forest County. Since then, the festival has held satellite festivals at various places including Saturday's festival at Camp Lutherlyn.

Festival president Jeffrey Calta of Chicora and cofounder Peggy Butler of Kellettville call the satellite festivals “glow and know” camp outs.

All fireflies use their bioluminescent flashes in their mating ritual, but synchronous fireflies are one of a few species that synchronize their flashes, Calta said.

This is an excerpt from an article that will appear in Monday's Butler Eagle.