One great place to see these miracles of nature is the Dongshi Forest Park (東勢花園林場) in Taichung (台中) County. The firefly season has kicked off here with tens of thousands of tiny bright lights sparkling in the dark night, and the numbers are increasing by the day. Thousands of visitors come here to see these amazing insects.

There are about 55 species of fireflies in Taiwan, of which 9 species have been spotted in Dongshi. While different species can be found here at different times of the year, the best time to come and see fireflies is from early April until mid-May. This is the peak season for the black-winged firefly (Luciola cerata Olivier), the species most common in Taiwan. Other firefly-watching periods for different species fall in July and November every year.

Fireflies, also called lightning bugs, are actually beetles that are capable of producing a cold light which is emitted from their lower abdomens. The chemical process involved in producing the light is very efficient, with no loss of energy in the form of heat. We can differentiate between males and females by the size of the eyes and the number of light-emitting sections on their lower abdomen.

The flashing lights are part of the courtship ritual, with different species and genders flashing at different frequencies and durations. The peak of the courtship period, and so the time when you can see the most lights, is usually from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The fireflies thrive in unpolluted places with lush greenery, abundant water sources and humid air. The stages of the lifecycle are egg, larvae, pupa and adult, the adult stage being the shortest (about 2 weeks). Some firefly larvae emit light, too, and are therefore called glowworms. They feed on small snails and worms.

Dongshi Forest Park has 4 firefly-watching trails where visitors can stroll and enjoy the sight of the dancing stars on the gentle mountain slopes. The park also offers 2 guided tours around the trails, at 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. every night. While taking visitors on the trek, the guide explains the lifecycle, habitat and behavior of these unique beetles. Other recreational facilities at the park include a giant chair pulley and a grass sled slope.

For visitors who want to do a one-day trip, a special ticket is offered during this season. If you enter the park after 3:00 p.m., the entrance fee is NT$125 per person. If you plan to spend the night at Dongshi, there is a special Internet rate of NT$2999 for 2 people, including a cabin room with 2 large beds, entrance tickets, parking, spa, breakfast, afternoon tea and a tea coupon.

For an extra NT$1000, the package can be upgraded to 4 people. Packages are limited, so book early. For more details about other packages (spa, consumer vouchers, etc.), please visit the Web site http://tsfa.emmm.tw or call (04) 2587-2191*8 or email tsforest@ms13.hinet.netHOW TO GET THERE:

Driving – If you are going south on Freeway 1, turn off to Freeway 4 after the Houli Toll Station. Take Fengshi Rd to Dongshi and follow the signs to Dongshi Forest Park.

If coming from the south going northward on Freeway 1, turn off to Freeway 4 after the Fengyuan Exit, and go toward Dongshi. The drive from Fengyuan to Dongshi is about 60 minutes.

If driving from Taichung, take the road from Dakeng toward Xinshe. Cross Dongshi bridge and drive toward the park.

By train – Take a train to Fengyuan Station, and transfer to Fengyuan Bus Company's Dongshi Line. Travel time from the station is about 1 hour.

There are buses from Fengyuan station at 7:20 a.m., 1:55 p.m. & 4:10 p.m.

In addition, there are 3~4 buses from Taichung on weekends that go directly to Dongshi Park.

Here are some guidelines to take good photos of fireflies:

(i)  Aperture – as big as possible

(ii) Exposure at 2 to 10 minutes depending on the combination of lighting and ISO/aperture

(iii) Flash should be off.

(iv) Focal length with 35 mm film – 50 mm or more.

(v) Focus – Set to infinite (manual)

(vi) ISO 400 or more

One final reminder: There are far fewer fireflies now than when we were young. As the quality of the natural environment deteriorates, the number of fireflies will continue to decline, or even completely disappear.

If we would like our children and their children to continue to enjoy this amazing sight, let us remember to maintain the purity of the environment there. We should not do anything that could hurt them, like plucking plants, intentionally trampling on the wildlife, or capturing the bugs. Future generations will be thankful for our consideration.