Many people have some really fond memories of the happy, carefree times they spent outside searching for lightning bugs. It’s basically a childhood tradition to run around at dusk, looking for the tell-tale green lights, trying to track them down catch them. However, something strange has been happening lately!
If you’ve noticed that there just aren’t as many fireflies as there used to be, you’re not alone. All across the country, and the world, the little glowing bugs are fast disappearing. With each passing year there seems to be less and less lighting up the night and it will be a sad day when fireflies are gone forever.
Researchers and scientists have been documenting the phenomenon and along with bees, butterflies, and many other insects whose numbers are also in decline, the primary cause is being attributed to mostly human activities. In particular, the insects are losing their natural habitat as humans move in and take over the land.
The constant development and population growth means that there are fewer places for fireflies to live, breed, and thrive. They prefer cool, damp areas in and around forests where there is an abundance of rotting wood and bodies of standing water.
Another big issue they face is related to the explosive increase in light pollution. Between street lights, car lights, flood lights around houses, and all of the countless other sources of bright artificial light that illuminate the night sky, there’s a lot for them to contend with.
Light pollution is terrible for fireflies because it messes with their ability to light up and signal one another, which is how they mate. If they aren’t glowing as much, they aren’t reproducing as much, and that’s a major part of why there are noticeably less fireflies with each passing summer.
Finally, the extensive overuse of pesticides is killing scores of innocent lightning bugs. Chemical pesticides are extremely harsh and can be toxic to all forms of life, including your own. They kill much more than what they are intended for. In fact, pesticides are why bees are disappearing in such alarming numbers and many of the most common and widely used varieties are lethal to them.
In addition, the runoff containing the toxic chemicals ends up polluting rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, and basically any body of water, even watersheds, aren’t immune from their ill effects. In the end, it’s best for everyone, especially mother nature, to just say no to using pesticides.
As bleak as the firefly situation seems, there are some things you can do to help the cool little bugs out and make a positive difference. The easiest and most obvious thing you can do is limit the amount of light pollution you’re contributing to the environment.
Use lights with motion detectors so they aren’t always on and turn off any that may be unnecessary at night. You’ll not only save energy and money, you’ll also see more lightning bugs in the long run.
Next, give them a place to live. They don’t need much, just some natural vegetation like rotten logs and composting leaves is enough for them. If you can, rather than clean up everything on your property, leave part of it wild and untouched. Finally, stop using chemical pesticides! Opt for organic and other natural alternative solutions instead.
All that it takes is a little knowledge and awareness to help stem the drastic decline in lightning bug numbers. Please do what you can and be sure to pass this information on with friends and family so that future generations will be able to enjoy fireflies for years to come!
Please SHARE This Story With Family and Friends
