Growing up with the joy of long summer nights and fireflies has to be one of the best childhood experiences. Playing tag with neighborhood kids amid the magical light show is more than a visual memory, it’s a feeling too.  Understanding and appreciating fireflies and their role in the web of life is also a science.   

From the Lancaster Online article, Where Have All the Fireflies Gone, by Ad Crable, May 11, 2024; 

According to what they call the most comprehensive research yet studying factors that influence firefly populations, a group of mostly Penn State researchers finds there are a handful of primary threats — increasingly climate change among them — that must be overcome if we are to continue to be delighted by jewels of the night.

Also working against fireflies are loss of habitat, pesticides spread on crops and in yards, artificial lights that disrupt the mating process, and the loss of open soil to driveways, homes, parking lots and other impervious surfaces needed by fireflies who spend up to the first two years of their lives hibernating and hunting in the ground as larva. Only then do they become the short-lived adult lightning bugs that blink their way to each other and mate.

Fortunately, the article does go on to say you can help fireflies too!

— Keep soil in parts of your yard open and moist. Decomposing leaves make great habitat. Consider leaving a portion of the yard unmowed.

— Plant a diversity of habitats such as trees, shrubs and plants to provide cover and shade.

— Do not use pesticides on your lawn or landscaping.

— Turn off outdoors lights during prime firefly mating season in June and July or use dimming lights.

To read the entire article Lancaster OnLine Article Link  AD CRABLE | Outdoors Columnist  May 11, 2024