Photographing the Common Eastern (USA) Firefly (Photinus pyralis) photos and information on how to get great pictures of fireflies even in flight ([We need to ask around to see if bug people feel like this photography link is OK to share, or would be harmful])

Femme Fatales: Mimicry & Murder

"Some feisty females exploit this unique mating ritual. Females of the genus Photuris use ‘aggressive mimicry’ to secure a feed. When males of another genus flash, the female responds with the flash pattern. She lures the male in, and once close enough, she eats him.

This deviant behavior comes down to defense. Unlike other species, adult females of the genus Photuris don’t produce chemical defenses. This leaves them as easy pickings for predators. By eating the males, his chemical defenses are transferred to the female, providing her with protection until she mates. But the males have clued in, learning to spot the phonies to avoid being duped." - https://blogs.unimelb.edu.au/sciencecommunication/2014/10/12/lightning-bugs-natures-flash-dancers/

Threats to Fireflies

Firefly Festivals & Tourism

These bring large crowds of tourists to delicate ecosystems. These tourists don't understand the delicacy of these insects nor the environments that they live in. There is generally little understanding of the harm that camera flashes do at these vital times in the insect's reproductive cycle. As a result habitats are damaged, fire flies fail to find mates, and their numbers drop further.

Fireflies face extinction risk - and tourists are partly to blame "Firefly tourism is on the rise globally but scientists are warning it may contribute to risk of the insect's extinction." "...firefly tourism is often crucial to local economies and should not be banned." "Instead tour operators and tourists can develop eco-friendly practices." Article explains the problem and solutions.

Harvesting / Poaching / Wild Fireflies

The Chinese environmental group 萤火虫生态线 (Firefly Ecological Line) has been speaking out and organizing protests against such firefly exhibitions. But they say that even if they can convince Chinese amusement parks to halt their live firefly shows, ordinary people remain eager to purchase fireflies. That’s because these luminous creatures are perceived as very romantic gifts. For instance, on the popular online shopping platform Taobao you can purchase live fireflies (萤火虫) to enliven birthdays, engagements, anniversaries and for Qixi Festival (the Chinese equivalent of Valentine’s Day). Some online shops offer 30 fireflies for 120 yuan (around $17.40, or 60¢ per firefly), while wholesalers sell packages of 300 live fireflies for as little as 100 yuan (20¢ per firefly). Meanwhile, back in rural areas, a typical firefly hunter earns less than 1¢ per firefly captured, notes Dr. Xinhua Fu, a firefly expert at Huazhong Agricultural University. Clearly, trafficking in live fireflies is a lucrative business."

"In China, as in most countries, fireflies currently enjoy no legal protection, so it’s difficult to halt commercial firefly harvesting. But firefly conservationists all agree on the urgent need for better educational outreach. Once people understand the fragility of their natural environment, they will want to protect it. And when people learn about the life cycle and habitat requirements of fireflies, they can begin to appreciate both their ecological and their cultural value.

The Chinese government will need to act quickly to identify and protect natural areas where fireflies thrive. Certain areas could be carefully developed into focal sites for ecotourism, encouraging people to enjoy viewing fireflies in their natural habitat. Firefly ecotourism also offers an alternative to collecting, as it provides long-term, sustainable economic benefits for local villagers. At the same time, research should focus on improving methods to artificially rear fireflies for use in museums and educational exhibits."

Solutions

Petition Against Activities That Harm Fireflies & Their Habitats

This level 4 action can help signal to politicians that we do care about the environment, and help convince them to help protect our ecosystems.

International

Become an advocate for “Dark Skies” policies to control light pollution in your area.

Asia

China

• Ban the Commercial Harvesting of Wild Fireflies in the U.S. and China 

Europe

• Save biodiversity in Europe. Stop wildlife extinction in EU 

North America

Mexico

• Mexico: Protect Sensitive Forests in Enchanted Tlaxcala Forests 

USA

• Ban the Commercial Harvesting of Wild Fireflies in the U.S. and China 

• Petition to Ban Leaf Blowers in Boston 

Build a Firefly Habitat

"Gardeners often don’t realize gardens make for great firefly habitat, helping to replace lost natural habitat. The common firefly — the Big Dipper firefly (Photinus pyralis) — readily takes to an organic habitat. The trick is to make your garden as inviting as possible for fireflies to take up residence.

Gardens are meccas for food fireflies eat. If you have fought off snails, slugs, various insects, worms then fireflies can lend a hand by helping to control these pests.

Fireflies spend up to 95% of their lives in larval stages. They live in soil/mud/leaf litter and spend from 1-2 years growing until finally pupating to become adults. This entire time they eat anything they can find. As adults, they only live 2-4 weeks. Females that have mated successfully need a place to lay eggs. They will lay eggs in many spots, but gardens offer an oasis with a source of soil moisture good for larval development.

Other Ways to Attract Fireflies

The Wet Bag Trick

1. Don’t rake leaves and put them on the curb. You are raking up firefly larvae and throwing them away.

2. Collect bags of leaves to make “Bag Compost”. Collect 5-15 bags.

3. Wet bags down in a shady lawn area. Keep moist/wet for 3-6 months or up to a year.

4. Bags will attract snails/slugs. This is food for growing fireflies.

5. In Spring, put bag compost in your garden. Put it in mounds and till it into your soil.

6. Repeat each year. It might take as long as 5 years, or as quick as that same year, to get fireflies in your garden.

Additional

Common Names from Around the World

English: The names of the fireflies

What we call fireflies or glow worms in English have different names in other languages:

• In Portuguese they are known as pirilampo.

• In French: ver luisant, and the species that shine during the flight: pike.

• In Spanish, people call them luciérnagas or gusanos de luz

• In German, they are called Glühwürmchen or Johanniskäfer.

• In Dutch, glimworm or vuurvliegje.

• In Swedish and Norwegian, sankthansorm or ildflye.

• In Finnish, kiiltomato.'

• In Hindi, they are jugnu.

Español: "Los nombres de las luciérnagas

Lo que en español se llaman luciérnagas o gusanos de luz recibe distintos nombres en otros idiomas:

• En portugués son conocidas como pirilampo.

• En francés responden al nombre de ver luisant, y las especies que brillan durante el vuelo, lucioles.

• En inglés como glow-worms, o con el genérico fire-flies, que designa a todas las especies de luciérnagas.

• En alemán, se llaman Glühwürmchen o Johanniskäfer.

• En neerlandés u holandés, glimworm o vuurvliegje.

• En sueco y noruego, sankthansorm o ildflye.

• En filandés, kiiltomato." - https://www.gusanosdeluz.com/luciernagas/los-nombres-de-las-luciernagas/

Firefly Watching Ethics

"Like the bird watchers or Birders as they called themselves, there are ethics in firefly watching too. Birders do not make noise or make unnecessary movements during a watch. So what about fireflyers?

If you are watching fireflies:

1. Make sure you do not bring a gigantic, strong spotlight. If you have a torch, use a blue light. Place a piece of blue plastic as a light filter for your small torch. Blue light normally do not disturb fireflies.

2. Get a good digital SLR camera for taking firefly light shows. Use a tripod and a self timer for those fantastic light shows. If you have a simple compact camera, use a tripod or on an immovable object. Experiment around with the camera settings on ISO, exposure settings and pixels.

3. For individual firefly shots (i.e. for identification purposes and recordings only). If it always fly around without resting on a vegetation, use a specialist insect fine net to catch the firefly without disturbing the rest too much, or sometimes you can cusp the animal with your hands. Do it gently, even though it is a beetle, but they are quite fragile. Put it in a jar, and photographed against a dark background. For close up shots of the firefly use a supermacro with an external light source that is a normal torch light. It is best to photograph the animal against the natural background. If you have a chance to do it without netting it while it is on a leaf, then you can use a macro or a telescopic lens with a flash light setting. Photographing them in the dark is not always easy, so you can try it in the daytime, while they are resting under the leaf, usually the do not move. This is easy for the congregating fireflies, but hard to find the individual ones.

4. Always return the fireflies unharmed. Do not keep them too long for photography. The chances of mating is slim and the period for them ‘talking’ to each other through their flashes and successes depends on their communication period window.

5. Try not to or use too much of the insect repellant. No insect repellant when handling a firefly.

6. Be quiet to enjoy the firefly show and the forest.

7. No collection of firefly adults and larvae, especially the non-congregating species, as they are site specific and not many. They do not live long.

8. Watch where you step on. Be on the look out for the glowing firefly larvae, the wingless female adult firefly of certain species, ovipositing female fireflies on the forest floor or the multi light starworm (not in the firefly family but a separate family on its own)

9. No pulling apart two mating fireflies.

10. No smoking please. No littering.

11. Please do report to the authorities if you see any disturbances to a firefly habitat site.

12. Definitely NO squishing, squashing, smacking, or plucking the appendages of fireflies, ie no killing or harming.

If you are a firefly watching guide:

Tools

Here are a variety of resources and guides for how to ethically appreciate fireflies. We caution against catching them as this can cause accidental harm, but included guidelines for how to catch, photo, and breed them for those who are trying to help fireflies via scientific study or education. Some national and international monitoring programs may require you to catch specimens for identification.

If you can't find what you need in this section, scroll down to see if identification guides, groups, or other resources are listed under your continent or nation. We have resources in several languages including an entirely French section at the bottom of this page.

• Scientific Literature "... a list of scientific and popular firefly literature (over 2200 citations), concerning firefly taxonomy, ecology, biochemistry, and so much more. This list is periodically updated."

• The Selangor Declaration – Conservation of Fireflies (PDF) "Participants from 13 countries met at the Second International Firefly Symposium in Selangor, Malaysia from 2nd to 5th August 2010. They included experts in the fields of taxonomy, genetics, biology, behavior, ecology and conservation of fireflies as well as members of government agencies, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, corporations and the public. The theme of the symposium was ‘Firefly Conservation: From Science to Practice.’ The following declaration was made in conjunction with the symposium at the Third International Firefly Research Network Meeting on 5th August 2010 and updated by the same body on the 25th November 2014."
  
  After 4 years, in 2014, during the 4th International Firefly Symposium, the Selangor Declaration was relooked again. It was discussed, amended, agreed by the participants and updated"

• World Firefly Day includes yearly date, a video, and interactive map of Fire Fly Day events.

Africa

Asia

Riverbank Development Threatens Malaysia’s Congregating Firefly Habitats "Malaysia is one of the few South-east Asian countries blessed with the presence of congregating fireflies along its rivers. These fireflies often congregate on ‘display trees’ along both sides of the mangrove-lined intertidal river and even up to 100 meters inland from the riverbank where they breed. The synchronous fireflies, one of the more well known amongst the congregating fireflies, is an ecotourism product which draws hundreds of tourists annually to the Kampung Kuantan area in Selangor thus contributing to the local and State economy.

The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) recently embarked on a six-month study to survey and document the current status of congregating firefly habitats in Peninsular Malaysia, a first of its kind here. MNS hopes that the results of this study will help to highlight the urgent need to improve river conservation to the Federal and State Government and agencies. This study is funded by the Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.

Preliminary findings suggest that there are still many intact mangrove-lined rivers in Pahang, Terengganu, Perak and Johor that support healthy congregating firefly populations. However, their populations have been reduced to a single or two localities in the States of Selangor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Penang respectively. Most of the rivers in Negeri Sembilan and Melaka have been cleared and bunded, thus eliminating the congregating fireflies’ habitats.

Through the course of these surveys, it was evident that congregating firefly habitats continue to be threatened primarily by riverbank clearing, strong light source and river pollution. Riverbank vegetation is often cleared and bunds erected to establish aquaculture (shrimp) farms and agriculture e.g. oil palm plantations. Unregulated dumping of chemicals used in these activities often end up into the rivers. Light pollution along the rivers in the form of spotlights from the aquaculture farms, fish farms, sand mining dredges, ports and factories creates additional negative impacts. These activities threaten the congregating fireflies’ life cycle and survival.

“There are official records of 52 congregating firefly sites in Peninsular Malaysia of which 20 major rivers and tributaries have been surveyed to date and currently threatened by riverbank development as they are not protected. Of the remaining 32 rivers, some have been destroyed. The Sungai Linggi-Rembau firefly watching area is one such recent example,” says Sonny Wong, Senior Conservation Officer.

More disturbingly, healthy rivers that support congregating fireflies in the states mentioned above are also not spared as they face the possible threat in the form of flood mitigation measures. Although these projects have good intentions, they have affected several congregating firefly rivers previously such as Sungai Linggi-Rembau, Sungai Sedili Kecil, Sungai Johor and parts of Sungai Perak amongst others.

Thus, MNS would like to call upon the Federal and State Governments and its agencies to protect the remaining rivers that support congregating fireflies and re-examine its methods used in executing flood mitigation projects. The conservation of these rivers is not only important for the fireflies by also play crucial ecological functions. Furthermore, the presence of the fireflies in these rivers harbours ecotourism potentials. MNS hopes to present its final findings in due time to the relevant Federal and State Government agencies seek better solution(s) to conserve our congregating fireflies and its habitats.

It would be a national tragedy if the lights go out from these congregating fireflies in Peninsular Malaysia in the near future."

Asian Resources

Fireflies of Asia "This is a Firefliers International (FIN) subproject meant to help organize the review and curation of bioluminescent beetles in Asia." Includes images. Community support for identifying your own sightings. Your sightings can help scientific and conservation programs.

East Asia

China / 中国 

• Fireflies Species of China 

• 爱琴海萤火虫 "　爱琴海人工饲养萤火虫放飞策划(复育萤火虫)销售中心为国内最早从事萤火虫养殖、培育、以及萤火虫放飞活动、栖息地建设的生物研究机构，经过四年的不懈努力，已有包括水生、陆生在内的六个萤火虫品种可实现大规模饲养。希望通过我们的努力能帮助国内的生态观光农业园或旅游景区进行萤火虫人工饲养和栖息地的营造，其应用范围有休闲观光,环境教育,户外探索活动。..."

• 萤火虫景观调查与构建 "This paper analyzes friefly about the concept of firefly landscape and the firefly landscape present research situation, and use the history of firflies’ culture in our country as a background, then compare it with the situation in Japan, which people think highly of firefly and utilize them as landscape. This comparison reflect the situation that how we utilize the firefly as landscape, and the the requirement of rational construction of firefly landscape. By the case study of Aquatic fireflies, firstly, the paper analyzed the ecological enviroment in Zhejiang which firefly lived in and giving out the example of ecological cycle of aquatic fireflies. What’s more, this paper combined the result of field work, and discussed the effections of revetment enviroment and water quality that how they make contributions to the firefly habitat; Based on the field work in Japan, research compared the mode that Japan now used, and the firefly in each environment, and in order to offer a basic construction model for the Hangzhou firefly landscape."

Japan / 日本 

• Fireflies of Japan 

Taiwan / 台北市 

• Glowing with Pride Urban habitat restoration for fireflies in Taipeh

Türkiye /Turkey

• Ateş Böceği Gözlemleri, Fireflies of Turkey "Başta İstanbul ve Türkiye’deki ateş böceği gözlemlerinin bir arada toplanması amacıyla sayfa oluşturulmuştur."

Southeast Asia

Fireflies of the Philippines ''This project aim to collaboratively assess the biodiversity and distribution of fireflies at any life stage in the Philippines. Light pollution and riverbank modifications are pushing this family to extinction. The social and economic value of this species is immense but they have been struggling to gain the attention they need."

Fireflyers of Southeast Asia

MNS Firefly Conservation Initiative - Malaysian Firely Blog "to share with people who likes fireflies"

Synchronous Flashing in Southeast Asian Fireflies - - "Fireflies use light to find and communicate with potential mates. Most North American firefly species are rovers, twinkling in the characteristic patterns of their species as the fly. Southeast Asian fireflies in contrast flash synchronously in a spectacular communal display for their mates."

• Mass Audubon Firefly Watch "Join a network of citizen scientists around the country by observing fireflies in your own backyard, and help scientists map fireflies! Report your sightings, then share your photos here." This map covers North and Central America including Iceland

• Swiss glow worm survey, 2001 "People have seen Lampyris noctiluca higher than 2000 metres in the Alps on the sunny sides of the mountains). This map shows the regions where French or Italian is spoken, because our survey was only launched in the French area of our country (the few spots in the centre and south are in the Italian-spoken ‘Canton du Tessin’ where another glow-worm species is also present).
  
  It is curious that this glow worm survey is in fact a map of the residential houses (in sunny place, southward): Geneva, north of Lake Geneva, north of Lake Neuchatel, and touristic villages in the Alps. They are all places where people have a garden and spend a part of the night outside in the summer.
  
  We received very few observations from the agricultural zones – a surprise. But we don’t know if people there tried to look for glow worms.
  
  Yves Gonseth, director of the Swiss Centre for Fauna Cartography, is very happy with these results. Of course, they are not scientific. But he thinks that they are of value: before the survey, the centre had no idea of the status of glow worms in Switzerland. He has been surprised by the number of observations and their viability. In conclusion, glow worms are apparently everywhere in Switzerland and survive in the private gardens – a good thing. Hope it will be the same in the future...."

Organizations & Groups

• 萤火虫生态线 - Firefly Ecological Line -

• Fireflyers of East Asia 

• Fireflyers of Southeast Asia 

• Fireflyers of South Asia 

• Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) / Persatuan Pencinta Alam Malaysia "We have pioneered conservation in Malaysia for the last eight decades, making a difference through habitat conservation and environmental education. Through the joint efforts of our members, partners and supporters, MNS has become a strong voice for the protection of Malaysia’s natural heritage. We will continue presenting our stand by promoting and ensuring responsible environmental stewardship in this country."

Deutschland / Germany 

• Meldung von Ereignissen in Deutschland (German/Deutsch): "Haben Sie in Deutschland Glühwürmchen oder Glühwürmchen gesichtet? Vielleicht möchtest du deine Beobachtung teilen und sende eine kurze Nachricht... Dazu müssen Sie lediglich die sieben Fragen aus dem untenstehenden Fragenkatalog kurz per E-Mail beantworten."

• Sächsische Glühwürmchenprojekt "Eine SEHR ausführliche Erfassung von Lamprohiza splendidula-Vorkommen in Sachsen mit hoher zeitlicher und räumlicher Auflösung" "Please let us know:

  • if you've spotted fireflies on a night hike

  • if you have looked for them in vain in certain places

  • if your parents or grandparents know places where fireflies used to be"

North America

This section includes information for Central America, the Caribbean, Canada, and the USA.

Caribbean

• Fireflies of the Caribbean 

• Mass Audubon Firefly Watch "Join a network of citizen scientists around the country by observing fireflies in your own backyard, and help scientists map fireflies! Report your sightings, then share your photos here."

Mexico

• Biodiversity, Systematics, Biogeography and Conservation of Lampyridae (Insecta: Coleoptera) in Mexico and Central America "Goal: Increase the knowledge of Mexican fireflies "luciernagas" associated with different vegetation types. To study the pattern of relationships among taxa and biogeographic pattern that have led to the diversity and distribution of fireflies in Mexico and Central America.
  
  Analysis of intra and interspecific variation of firefly species with geometric morphometric and molecular tools focusing on species delimitation.
  
  Designing field studies for Biodiversity Conservation of fireflies."

• Flashes, Behavior and Additional Species of Nearctic Photinus Fireflies (PDF)

• Mass Audubon Firefly Watch "Join a network of citizen scientists around the country by observing fireflies in your own backyard, and help scientists map fireflies! Report your sightings, then share your photos here." 

• Revision of the Species of Pyropyga includes diagrams

• Southwestern Firefly Finder "Fireflies are a rare sight in the Southwest U.S. and Northern Mexico. That makes their flashing and glowing spectacles all the more enjoyable. This projects aims to better understand the distribution limits of these illusive beetles. Through the Western Firefly Project, which was expanded to New Mexico in 2021, the community will be drawing our attention to possible firefly localities throughout New Mexico and other southwestern states. Members of Southwest Firefly Finder will verify these sightings and submit data related to each finding here."

• Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México | UNAM · Zoología, Doctor of Philosophy: Santiago Zaragoza-Caballero Studies in English: Hay estudios en español.

• Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México | UNAM · Department of Zoology, BSc Student: Ishwari Giovanni Gutiérrez-Carranza "My BSc thesis is focused on analysis and description of intraspecific variation of firefly species with geometric morphometric tools." Information in English: hay información en español.

USA

This section covers the USA in general, with some state-specific resources at the bottom.

• The Best States to See Fireflies (PDF)

• Elateroidea (Fireflies) of the Appalachian Mountains "Discover and compare the different species of fireflies and their abundance at different times of the year within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for and Honor's Research Project."

• Elateroidea (Fireflies) of the Rocky Mountains "Analyze the diversity of Elateroidea during different seasons on the west coast in the Rocky Mountains"

• Field Guide to Western North American Fireflies (PDF) includes coloured photos, graphes of flash patterns, maps, and details about specific parks and conservations areas in different US States.

• Fireflies of Ontario (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) (PDF) "A comprehensive illustrated digital key is provided for the 23 species of Lampyridae found in eastern Canada. Photinus consanguineus Leconte, Photinus sabulosus Green, and Lucidota punctata (LeConte) are added as new Canadian records, and Photinus ignitus Fall and Photinus indictus (LeConte) are added as new Quebec records. Phosphaenus hemipterus Fourcroy, Photinus curtatus Green and Photinus pyralis Linnaeus are added to the list of Ontario Lampyridae, while Photinus punctulatus LeConte and Photinus scintillans (Say) are deleted from the list following re-identification of specimens on which previous records were based. The key will also allow the identification of most species of firefly occurring in the northeastern United States." Includes maps.

• Firefly Species of the USA & Canada

• Flashes, Behavior and Additional Species of Nearctic Photinus Fireflies (PDF) 

• Mass Audubon Firefly Watch "Join a network of citizen scientists around the country by observing fireflies in your own backyard, and help scientists map fireflies! Report your sightings, then share your photos here."

• North American Fireflies of the Genus Photuris (PDF) Includes flashing graphs, and sketches.

• Plants for Fireflies This list seems to focus on native plants in Texas, which may or may not be appropriate for other regions. Please research to make sure the plants you use are both native and appropriate for the bioluminscent insects in your region.

• Revision of the Species of Pyropyga (PDF) includes diagrams

• Revision of the Nearctic Species of Pyractomena (PDF)

• Revision of the Nearctic Species of Photinus (PFD)

• Southwestern Firefly Finder "Fireflies are a rare sight in the Southwest U.S. and Northern Mexico. That makes their flashing and glowing spectacles all the more enjoyable. This projects aims to better understand the distribution limits of these illusive beetles. Through the Western Firefly Project, which was expanded to New Mexico in 2021, the community will be drawing our attention to possible firefly localities throughout New Mexico and other southwestern states. Members of Southwest Firefly Finder will verify these sightings and submit data related to each finding here."

New York

• Fireflies of NYC "Monitor and track the firefly populations across NYC from June - July"

Oceana

Australia

Only 3 glow worms have been described in Australia, but there are 25 known firefly species.

"Unlike ground-dwelling, luminescent glowworms, adult fireflies are winged. They flit around all continents bar Antarctica, preferring warm and wet wooded habitats. In Australia, fireflies inhabit the forests and mangroves along the coast of New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory." - https://blogs.unimelb.edu.au/sciencecommunication/2014/10/12/lightning-bugs-natures-flash-dancers/

When fire ripped through Kangaroo Valley, it took out a substantial number of Blue Mountain fire flies, Dr Ballantyne told The New Daily.

Now that population is gone and the area will have to be “re-invaded” by the species, Dr Ballantyne said, but there’s no guarantees that will work.

This particular population was only discovered a couple of years ago, and was in a bushy corner on someone’s private property. That’s where you’ll find most fireflies dwelling in Australia, Dr Ballantyne said.

Not a lot of people are aware the country has fireflies, let alone two dozen different species, because they’re not in places commonly seen by the public.

“They only live in areas where there’s moist undergrowth,” Dr. Ballantyne said. And most of those areas – dense scrubland, rainforests, mangroves and national parks – tend to be inaccessible by the everyday person.

Mostly, you’ll find them in Australia’s top end and down the east coastline, she said. Occasionally, you’ll be lucky to spot a couple in a suburban backyard in Brisbane’s outer pockets.

Because of their inaccessibility, it’s relatively hard to measure Australia’s firefly population.

In other countries, such as parts of Asia and the US, there are tourism promotions built around firefly season, Dr Ballantyne said. Ironically, some of these ventures are contributing to habitat loss, which is decimating populations.

Whereas in the US, scientists can use a range of factors to pinpoint exactly when the beetles will be firing, Australia’s unpredictable seasons mean that’s just not possible.

The life cycle of a firefly spans about two years, the majority of that spent as a caterpillar. There’s only about three weeks of a firefly’s life when they’re actually a ‘fire’ fly. It’s usually in summer, but just when that is will depend on the previous two years of rainfall, Dr Ballantyne said.

While our fireflies’ lives depend precariously on our climate and environment, we don’t have the added two factors that plague other countries’ populations, at least not to the same degree.

In East Asia and Southern America, artificial light at night – illuminated billboards, street lights and the general glow from ever-expanding cities – is competing with and suppressing male fireflies’ natural instinct to glow and attract females.

An increased use of pesticides on agricultural land was the third identified global factor pushing down the population."

Resources

• Atlas of Living Australia: Lampyridae Literature page, with links to other resources including occurrence records, sequences, classification, etc.

• Blue Mountains Firefly Scientific name: Atyphella lychnus. Lean more here about their habitat, distribution, size range, , number of species, history lifecycle, breeding behaviors, and other behaviors/adaptations.

• Fireflies of Oceania "This is a Firefliers International (FIN) subproject meant to help organize the review and curation of bioluminescent beetles in Oceania (Australia + Pacific Islands)."

• Glow worms and fireflies "Both glow worms and fireflies are not worms and flies as their names suggest! You can read all about these insects here, as well as bioluminescence and how it used by insects and other life forms." from the Wet Tropics Management Authority.

• iNaturalist Australia includes a variety of species including bioluminescent bugs like glow worms and fireflies including:

• Mount Buffalo Glow Worm (Arachnocampa buffaloensis) 

• Northern Queensland Glow Worm (Arachnocampa tropica) 

• Orange Fire Worm (Eurythoe complanata)

• Southern Queensland Glow Worm (Arachnocampa flava) 

Oceana

Resources

Fireflies of Oceania "This is a Firefliers International (FIN) subproject meant to help organize the review and curation of bioluminescent beetles in Oceania (Australia + Pacific Islands)."

Informations en Français

Pollution lumineuse et bioluminescence

"La pollution lumineuse est un phénomène que l’on associe à l’utilisation des éclairages artificiels. C’est la conséquence d’un développement de l’urbanisation et des activités humaines. Il y a pollution lumineuse lorsque la lumière artificielle propagée dans le ciel la nuit est supérieure à 10% de la luminosité naturelle nocturne.

D’un point de vue écologique, la pollution lumineuse modifie la composante nocturne de l’environnement et donc impacte les comportements et rythmes biologiques des organismes vivants et des écosystèmes.

L’exposition à une source de lumière artificielle peut entraîner une réponse répulsive, autrement dit les individus s’éloignent de la source de lumière (perception accrue du risque d’être chassé par un prédateur, déplacements et recherche de nourritures limités). Au contraire, chez les insectes nocturnes et les oiseaux migrateurs, organismes qui utilisent la lumière des astres pour se déplacer dans l’obscurité, l’exposition à la pollution lumineuse entraîne une réponse attractive, autrement dit les individus s’approchent de la source de lumière.

Les espèces bioluminescentes, c’est-à-dire les espèces capables de produire et d’émettre leur propre lumière, sont particulièrement concernées, à l’image des lucioles et des vers luisants qui utilisent des signaux lumineux pour attirer leurs partenaires (reproduction altérée)." - http://www.asterella.eu/NEOKIPOS/pollution_et_bioluminescence.php?pays=FRANCE&p=

Outils 

• Les missions spéciales de l'Observatoire des Vers Luisants "Une petite balade de 200 à 300 m près de chez vous, environ une heure après le coucher du soleil, par temps clair, durant laquelle vous comptez les vers luisants de part et d'autre du chemin à l'aller et au retour. C'est peu pour vous, mais beaucoup pour nous ! Nous vous préparerons un itinéraire approprié et une fiche de mission, qu'il vous suffira de nous retourner complétée par mail."

• L'observatoire des vers luisants et des lucioles "Avez-vous déjà vu des vers luisants ou des lucioles ?" "Vous n'avez jamais vu de ver luisant? S'il-vous-plaît, remplissez quand même ce formulaire. Il est important de disposer d'un nombre suffisant de jardins sans ver luisant pour comparer."