Tips for Today

Fireflies/lightning bugs bring childhood magic into our summer evenings. They are in need of our support, and here are some actions you can take.

Learn about fireflies. Did you know that fireflies are not actually flies? They are winged, soft-bodied beetles.
At night, turn off your outdoor lights. Artificial lighting can interrupt the glow-light-blinking-patterned communication between potential firefly mates.
Avoid spraying weed-killing chemicals in your yard as these toxins damage the lifecycle of fireflies.
Join in on the “Low Mow May” campaign and carry it through the mowing season. Fireflies love long-grass yards and meadows.
Participate in a community-science project and report the fireflies in your community to the Xerces Society (https://xerces.org/endangered-species/fireflies/community-science).
Increase the number of native plants, of varying sizes, in your yard. Fireflies love flowers and hide in long-leafed plants in the day. Firefly expert Terry Lynch recommends planting pine trees because they offer shade, and the “low light area provided by a canopy actually increas[es] the amount of time fireflies have to find a mate. Also, the litter produced by pine trees, if left to accumulate, provides a good habitat for earthworms and other small animals which firefly larvae feed upon.” (www.firefly.org/how-you-can-help.html).

Which action do you think you’ll try? Meanwhile, enjoy finding some fireflies in town this week!