Photos: Glowing worms light up Colorado community

DENVER ( KDVR ) — After the sun went down in late June, one Bailey resident found something lighting up on the ground outside her back deck.

Just outside in a rocky area, Elizabeth Fuller said she found glow worms, which were surprisingly bright for their size, she told FOX31 in an email.

The Butterfly Pavilion told FOX31 the insects Fuller found may be a firefly known as the Pecos desert-friendly firefly, formally known as Microphotus pecosenis or mountain glow worms.

According to NatureServe Explorer , female worms glow brightly at night to attract males. They’re usually found in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

Fuller posted the “rare sight” on a neighborhood Facebook group , which soon gained a lot of attention from residents nearby. Comments flooded in on the post, and many nearby residents set out to find the insects the following days.

According to her Facebook post, the pictures don’t do them justice.

“It has brought us so much joy the last few evenings finding them. Apparently, the neighbors feel the same way,” said Fuller.

Fuller said these worms were found at 8,200 feet in a rocky area that gets a lot of sun during the day.

Other residents in the area said on Facebook they were able to find some in around late June as well.

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