Vanishing firefly projects begins Saturday

The annual Clemson University firefly census will launch Saturday night, from 8 to 10 o’clock. The lightning bug count will continue through the summer. The census is part of Clemson University’s Vanishing Firefly Project that investigates the impact of human activity on firefly populations. The researchers depend on “citizen scientists” to count the fireflies and submit data via the website form or smartphone apps for Apple and Android. Last year, about 1,200 lightning bug census-takers took part. This time, scientists are hoping for more recruits.