Sugar Hill June Dusk

On this June night of Sugar Hill, White Mountains, the lightning bugs made a beautiful show above lupine flowers during the bloom peak. In fact they were not interested to lupine flowers, but to the native grass and bush around them.

It was almost a paradise, except for all the hungry mosquitoes that were chasing me on this windless humid dusk. These were captured for Life at Night Atlas, a project for the National Geographic Society. Fireflies are important night pollinators. Their populations decline worldwide due to pesticide, loss of habitat, and light pollution. The light signal is for mating and it stops in the presence of bright artificial light. They are least affected by motion-sensor and shielded lights pointed to the ground. I was happy to see them thriving at this place.

Fine Art Print