The Disappearance of Fireflies from Our Night Skies
Over the summer, you may have noticed something missing: the bright bulbs made by the firefly didn't light up our skies like summers of our childhood. That's not a special instance in just a few states-- fireflies as we know them are slowly disappearing from our skies, and they will soon become only a part of our memory. Why is this happening? What can we do to stop these bugs from going away for good?
So what is actually happening to fireflies? A whole species of bugs don't just disappear in a decade. There a few factors to their dwindling numbers, and these factors have led to the near endangerment of the firefly.
Most firefly species thrive as larvae on rotting wood and forest litter. As they grow, they mostly live near marches, lakes, forests, and fields. Fireflies love humid and wet open areas. It's these same qualities that are disappearing in the landscape of America. From as close-by as Union County where large plots of land are sold to create residential areas, to larger scale pavement to make room for busy streets, the higher the human foot traffic is, the lower the firefly populations go.
Similarly, scientists see a correlation between the amount of light pollution emitted and the disappearance of fireflies. Fireflies use their lights in flashes to communicate, and due to human lights, fireflies flashes' may be interrupted.
How can we stop the extinction of fireflies? 1 in 3 North American fireflies face extinction, and that number will only go up in the coming decades. Here are some steps you can take!
Try to avoid chemical lawn treatments, bug sprays, and weed killers. These often kill firefly larvae or the worms and other critters they eat. Also, remember to turn off your porch light at night, especially during the summer. This stops the interruption fireflies face in communication. Instead, opt for motion sensor lights. Another step you can take is leaving wood and leaves alone in your yard, as this is often where firefly larvae are found.
Whether its a small step or a large, if all of us contribute to saving the fireflies, we may soon see these bugs light up our skies once more!
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