Fireflies in Hillsboro

Hillsboro is home to at least six documented firefly species, including Photinus dimissus, a rare and tiny Texas firefly associated with moist creek corridors and undisturbed habitat. Fireflies are most commonly observed in Hillsboro from late April through July, depending on rainfall, temperature, and site conditions. May through early June are peak times. In some years, they may also have a brief resurgence in the fall.

Fireflies are more than a familiar part of warm-weather evenings. They spend most of their lives as larvae in soil, leaf litter, and damp ground, making them closely connected to healthy land, water, and habitat. As adults, they rely on darkness to communicate through species-specific flashes used for mating. In Hillsboro, they are most likely to be seen near creeks, wooded areas, and relatively undisturbed land where moisture, vegetation, and darkness remain intact.

About Glow Hillsboro

Glow Hillsboro is an ongoing community initiative connecting science, stewardship, and downtown placemaking. It brings together two related efforts: (1) learning from and celebrating Hillsboro’s fireflies through research, education, community events, public art, and habitat awareness; and (2) improving downtown with thoughtful, dark-sky-friendly rooftop lighting.

One celebrates the natural light already present in Hillsboro. The other considers how artificial light can be used more thoughtfully. Together, they form Glow Hillsboro.

This page focuses on Hillsboro’s fireflies. Visit the Downtown Rooftop Lighting Project page to learn more about the related lighting work.

Hillsboro’s Firefly Species

The City of Hillsboro and Hill College are working with firefly researcher Ben Pfeiffer, founder of Firefly Conservation & Research / Firefly.org, to better understand the species present in Hillsboro and the habitat conditions that support them. Firefly species can be distinguished by their size, habitat, season, and flash pattern. All six species below have been documented in Hillsboro, demonstrating the biodiversity present here. Documented species include:

Species	Size	Habitat	Flash Pattern	Best Viewing	Interesting Fact
*Photuris billbrowni*	12–18 mm	Dry, shaded woods near streams and rivers	Distinctive "double flash" every 1.0–1.8 seconds	9:00–10:30 p.m.; 75–82°F	Sometimes synchronizes with others during rainy years.
*Photinus concisus*	9–13 mm	Oak hillsides, riparian corridors, suburban lawns	Single quick flash about every 2 seconds; can become nearly synchronous	18–27 minutes after sunset	Often confused with the common Big Dipper firefly.
*Photinus dimissus*	5–7 mm	Wet creekbeds, ephemeral streams, golf courses	Bright double-pulse "Two-Step" flash about every second	June; 9:00–10:00 p.m.	Rare species with a wingless female; Hillsboro is home to one of its known populations.
*Photinus pyralis*	8–15 mm	Parks, fields, roadsides, backyards	Long yellow J-shaped flash about every 4 seconds	Mid-May–early July	Texas's most familiar firefly species.
*Photinus stellaris*	5–10 mm	Bushes and woodland edges	Steady 1-second flashes from a perch	Early evening	Can trigger spectacular "flash storms" with nearby fireflies.
*Photinus texanus*	5–10 mm	Central Texas creek corridors	Quick flashes about every second	May–June; 8:30–9:30 p.m.	Fast, agile flyer found beneath dark tree canopies.

Meet Photinus dimissus

At only 5–7 millimeters long, Photinus dimissus is approximately the size of a grain of rice. Males produce a rapid double-pulse flash about once per second, earning the species the nickname “Texas Two-Step Flasher.” Females are wingless and respond from the ground with a single flash.

The species is associated with moist creekbeds, decomposing leaf litter, dense vegetation, and low-light conditions. Because females cannot fly, mowing, landscape disturbance, habitat loss, and excessive artificial light can pose particular risks.

From Eclipseboro to Glow Hillsboro

Date	Milestone
Oct. 2023	Hillsboro Main Street Program received an In the Path of Totality Grant from Main Street America and the Simons Foundation to support science engagement surrounding the April 2024 total solar eclipse.
Apr. 2024	Eclipseboro brought residents, businesses, visitors, and community organizations together through science programs and eclipse-related activities.
Feb. 2025	Hillsboro was selected for the Science Discovery on Main Street program and received a $12,500 Discovery Grant.
June 2025	Hillsboro Main Street Program assembled 25 local Science Champions representing education, agriculture, parks, museums, business, science, and the arts.
July 2025	The Science Champions mapped Hillsboro’s local science assets. Potential areas of focus included fireflies and light ecology; grains, agriculture, and distilling; native plants and pollinators; and local fossils and geology.
July 2025	Community deep-dive sessions at Bearded Wheat Distillery explored regional fireflies with researcher Ben Pfeiffer and the science of grains, agriculture, and distilling with local partners.
July 2025	A field outing at Hillsboro Country Club documented multiple firefly species, including Photinus dimissus.
Aug. 2025	Hillsboro chose to build its Science Discovery work around fireflies, connecting biodiversity, healthy land and water, dark skies, education, public art, and downtown placemaking.
Feb. 2026	Hillsboro received a $20,000 Science Discovery on Main Street Implementation Grant to put its ideas into action.
Spring 2026	Hill College partnered with firefly researcher Ben Pfeiffer to involve students in firefly education and field research.
Spring 2026	Glow Hillsboro took shape as an umbrella for firefly research, education, public art, community programming, habitat awareness, and the related Downtown Rooftop Lighting Project.
June 2026	The Bond’s Alley firefly mural and educational downtown lamp-post banners were installed and dedicated.
June 2026	Starlight Bar Night, Picnic Under the Stars, and Fireflies on the Fairway introduced residents and visitors to local fireflies, bioluminescence, and Hillsboro’s nighttime environment.
Ongoing	Glow Hillsboro continues through research, education, habitat awareness, public programming, creative placemaking, and responsible downtown lighting.

Glow Hillsboro in Action

Research and Education

Firefly identification and field observation
Hill College student participation in firefly research
Firefly programming during Hill College’s Girls STEM Day
A firefly-themed StoryWalk through downtown storefronts
Educational lamp-post banners
Public information about fireflies, bioluminescence, habitat, and responsible lighting

Events and Community Engagement

Glow Hillsboro invites residents and visitors to experience local science in familiar and welcoming settings. Programming has included:

Starlight Bar Night: An evening of science-themed activities hosted by downtown businesses and community partners
Fireflies on the Fairway: A guided public firefly walk at Hillsboro Country Club during peak season
Picnic Under the Stars: A community gathering and mural dedication in Bond’s Alley
Firefly and bioluminescence activities led by local educators, businesses, artists, and volunteers

Art and Placemaking

Glow Hillsboro also uses art and public spaces to connect downtown with the natural environment. Projects have included:

A large firefly mural in Bond’s Alley
Educational firefly banners displayed on downtown lamp posts
Dark-sky-friendly principles incorporated into the related Downtown Rooftop Lighting Project

Helping Hillsboro’s Fireflies

Fireflies spend most of their lives as larvae in soil, leaf litter, and damp ground. As adults, they rely on darkness to communicate through species-specific flash patterns.

Small changes can help preserve the conditions fireflies need:

Turn off outdoor lights when they are not needed.
Use warm, downward-facing fixtures where lighting is necessary.
Avoid broad-spectrum pesticides, particularly near creeks and damp habitat.
Preserve native vegetation, leaf litter, fallen wood, and moisture in appropriate areas.
Reduce frequent mowing and landscape disturbance in firefly habitat during peak season.
Protect creek corridors and other moist, relatively undisturbed areas.
Enjoy fireflies where they live. If one is caught for a closer look, release it promptly.

The City has not adopted a firefly conservation ordinance or formal habitat-management plan. Current work focuses on research, public education, community awareness, and applying responsible-lighting practices where appropriate.

Learn more about protecting fireflies

Project Funding

Firefly Research, Education, and Programming

Funding source	Amount	Purpose
Main Street America and Simons Foundation — Discovery Grant	$12,500	Community asset mapping, planning, partnerships, and identification of local science resources
Main Street America and Simons Foundation — Workshop Support	$1,500	Science-engagement workshop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Main Street America and Simons Foundation — Implementation Grant	$20,000	Public programming, education, public art, partnerships, and project implementation
Hill College	$5,000	Firefly education, student participation, research, and public programming
TOTAL SUPPORT	$39,000

Related Downtown Rooftop Lighting

The Downtown Rooftop Lighting Project has received support from the George G. and Alva Hudson Smith Foundation, Hill County, downtown building owners, community donors, and the City of Hillsboro.

Visit the Downtown Rooftop Lighting Project page for detailed information, funding updates, and current progress.

Community Partners

Glow Hillsboro’s firefly work has been made possible through collaboration among:

City of Hillsboro
Main Street Hillsboro
Hill College
Main Street America
Simons Foundation
Firefly Conservation & Research / Firefly.org
Hillsboro Country Club
Participating educators, artists, businesses, volunteers, and event hosts

Hillsboro Fireflies in the News

Date	Source and format	Coverage
September 18, 2025	The Hillsboro Reporter — Newspaper	Science Grant Leads to Rare Firefly Discovery
October 29, 2025	Main Street America — Announcement	Announcing the 2025 Science Discovery on Main Street Implementation Grantees
November 20, 2025	The Hillsboro Reporter — Newspaper	Hillsboro Main Street Receives Grant for Downtown Lighting
May 21, 2026	The Ann Harder Show — Podcast	Fireflies on the Fairway with Tiffany Barron
June 5, 2026	Small Biz Survival — Online feature	Astrotourism for Small Towns and Rural Areas
August 4, 2026	Main Street America — National feature	Letting Curiosity Light the Way: Hillsboro, Texas