| Moderators
Candace Fallon, Senior Endangered Species Conservation Biologist, Firefly Lead, Xerces Society Candace is a senior conservation biologist with the Xerces Society, where she works with researchers, land managers, and community scientists to study and protect at-risk invertebrates and their habitats. She has extensive experience with species inventories and monitoring, providing technical guidance to land managers, developing and managing community science projects, and conducting outreach. Much of her work has focused on conserving imperiled butterflies, beetles, mollusks, and aquatic macroinvertebrates on federal lands in the western U.S. As the firefly lead, she also manages Xerces' firefly conservation program and serves as coordinator of the IUCN SSC Firefly Specialist Group for the US and Canada.
Richard Joyce, Endangered Species Conservation Biologist, Firefly Atlas, Xerces Society Richard joined Xerces as an endangered species conservation biologist in 2022. He coordinates the Firefly Atlas project, collaborates with researchers, land managers, and community scientists, and compiles and creates tools and resources that drive firefly conservation efforts. Before joining Xerces, Richard worked at conservation non-profits and agencies in Maine and South Carolina, including The Nature Conservancy, Maine Natural Areas Program, and Congaree National Park. He is based in Amherst, Massachusetts, where he enjoys birding, botanizing, and photographing insects in local green spaces.
Katie Hietala-Henschell, Endangered Species Conservation Biologist, Firefly Atlas, Xerces Society Katie Hietala-Henschell works with the firefly team to lead the growth of the Firefly Atlas, expand the firefly sanctuary network, and support conservation efforts throughout the Central US. Previously, Katie was a zoologist with the New York Natural Heritage Program where she focused on rare animal surveys across various taxa including bats, salamanders, snakes, moths, tiger beetles, dragonflies, and bumble bees. While there, she developed a special fondness for fireflies. She created and led a 3-year firefly inventory project called Dark Skies for Fireflies in New York. She has a master's degree in Forest Ecology and Management from Michigan Technological University, where her research focused on the emerald ash borer. Through previous positions, she has worked with invasive insects, pollinators, and other beneficial insects in agricultural, biofuel, and natural systems. |
