Seeing fewer fireflies this year? Here’s why, and how you can help.
Seeing fewer fireflies this year? Here’s why, and how you can help.
grist.org Seeing fewer fireflies this year? Here's why, and how you can help.
Fireflies are vulnerable to climate change and habitat loss. A few landscaping tricks and turning off porch lights can make a big difference.
Fireflies are vulnerable to climate change and habitat loss. Some simple landscaping tricks and turning off porch lights can make a big difference.
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- Turn off your porch lights. Fireflies are incredibly sensitive to artificial light and it can confuse them.
- Ditch the manicured lawn and embrace native plants. In addition to being easier to care for, they suit the local environment and conserve water.
- Leave some leaves behind when you rake in the fall. They’re a great place for fireflies to find food, stay cool, and lay eggs.
- Plant shrubs, tufting grasses, and other, large plants. These can shelter fireflies during rainstorms and other severe weather.
- If you spot fireflies, jot down when and where you saw them and add your observations to citizen science databases like iNaturalist, Firefly Watch or Firefly Atlas to help scientists collect data.
I often see fireflies hanging out on my dendrobiums, as well as wasps and spiders. The shape of the plant and stiffness of the leaves seem appealing to insects.
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