In late June, after sunset, Bailey resident Elizabeth Fuller noticed something glowing on the ground outside her back deck. In a rocky area near her home, Fuller discovered glow worms, which she described as surprisingly bright for their size.
The Butterfly Pavilion identified the insects Fuller found as potentially being Pecos desert-friendly fireflies, scientifically known as Microphotus pecosenis or mountain glow worms. According to NatureServe Explorer, these female worms emit a bright glow at night to attract males and are typically found in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Fuller shared her rare discovery on a neighborhood Facebook group, which quickly garnered attention from nearby residents. The post received numerous comments, with many locals setting out to find the glowing insects themselves in the following days. Fuller mentioned in her post that the pictures don’t do the glow worms justice.
“It has brought us so much joy the last few evenings finding them. Apparently, the neighbors feel the same way,” Fuller shared.
The glow worms were found at an elevation of 8,200 feet in a sunny, rocky area. Other residents also reported finding glow worms around the same time in late June.
