Reignite the magical light of fireflies

Fireflies are a wonder of summer for many people, stirring up visions of running through the grass as kids, chasing nature’s light show all over the backyard.

Their unique ability to produce light, shared with various other land creatures (glow worms) and deep-sea creatures (angler fish) is called bioluminescence.

The soaring magicians are a type of beetle that communicate with their lights, which ignite when oxygen combines with an internal chemical called luciferin. Each of the over 2,000 species of fireflies has its own unique flashing pattern used for mating and protection.

Fireflies are found all over the world but, unfortunately, disappearing all over the world for various reasons. Starting small in our own backyards with the creation of a friendly habitat can help to slow their decline.

Incorporate natural mulch. When clearing leaves in the fall, leave some behind by mowing them into the lawn or adding them as natural mulch to garden beds, increasing the health of future plants that will act as an abundant habitat the following spring.

Reduce lighting in the yard. Turn off outdoor lights and close the curtains to block indoor light from getting out. Excess artificial light, also known as “light pollution”, can cause confusion during mating season, resulting in less reproduction.

Reduce pesticide use, which can potentially harm fireflies through secondary exposure. While it hasn’t been proven that pesticides kill them directly, its use on lawns can poison the food that the firefly larvae feed on.

Increase water. Fireflies love moisture, so a small standing pond is ideal to encourage their presence. If mosquitoes become a problem, try adding mosquito dunks to target only mosquito larvae without affecting fireflies and pollinating insects.

Creative landscaping. When mowing, leave a patch or two of taller grass. This will give them an ideal area to congregate and potentially increase their population.

A larger effort. An article at www.nrpa.org2020/april/can-parks-help-save-fireflies/ cites parks as a potential conservation tool to encourage firefly population growth through habitat while providing education and viewing events for families.