Latest news with #lightningbugs
Associated Press
7 days ago
- Science
- Associated Press
Fireflies are lighting up summer skies. But the glowing bugs are still on the decline
NEW YORK (AP) — Fireflies are lighting up summer evenings across the U.S. Northeast, putting on dazzling shows in backyards and city parks. There's no official count, but experts say a particularly wet spring may have created the ideal conditions for young fireflies to grow into adults to set summer nights aglow. Fireflies light the night everywhere: There are over 2,000 known species across the globe. They use their characteristic flashes to communicate and find the perfect mate. In New York City, the lightning bugs are out in the five boroughs, sparkling once the sun goes down in places like Central Park and Prospect Park. The summer months are ideal to spot them as they start to dwindle throughout the month of August. While northeastern nights may seem brighter this summer, the bugs are still on the decline and they're waning at a faster rate than ever before. 'It would be a mistake to say firefly populations are high this year, therefore there's no decline,' said Matt Schlesinger with the New York Natural Heritage Program, who is part of an effort to count fireflies in state parks. Habitat loss, pesticide use and light pollution are responsible for a decline in population. In cities, blaring lights from billboards, cars and storefronts can drown out the bugs' glow, making it harder for them to find their kin and pass their genes onto the next generation. Fireflies are part of the story of summer, said entomologist Jessica Ware with the American Museum of Natural History. Her children grew up seeing them flash in her backyard, but the bugs started to disappear once her kids hit their teenage years. In the past few months, her family has seen the fireflies come back. Their return made her think about all the kids who are glimpsing the glowing bugs for the very first time. 'It shouldn't be new,' Ware said. 'It should be something that is a universal part of summer.' To look out for fireflies, consider turning the lights off at night and avoid spraying front lawns with insecticides. 'We still need to do some work ourselves, to change our behavior, to really make sure that large populations can continue to stay large,' Ware said. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Are fireflies disappearing? A look at New Jersey's lightning bug population
Many people do not like bugs ... but who doesn't love fireflies? They are naturally magical, illuminating a backyard like fireworks on a warm summer night. Here in New Jersey, and around much of the country, it would not feel like summer without them. Fireflies, or lightning bugs as 87% of readers call them, are found all over the world. They tend to like warm and fairly wet weather, typically appearing in May, June or July in the United States. North America is home to approximately 150 species of fireflies, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. About 30 of these species are known or thought to be found in New Jersey. However, fireflies are not well studied or understood in the state, according to the NJDEP, which says, "Like so many of our other wildlife, fireflies are incredibly diverse with many having unique habitat and life history requirements." Christopher M. Heckscher, firefly researcher and professor of environmental science and ecology at Delaware State University told last summer that this is not just an issue in New Jersey. Overall, according to Heckscher, we know so little about fireflies compared to some other species like dragonflies or butterflies. "I think the reason we know so little about them in comparison to things like butterflies and dragonflies is because to study them you have to be willing to be outside late at night, sometimes in really remote areas," said Heckscher. "We found that fireflies are often associated with different types of wetlands, so not only do you have to be outside at night, but you also have to be in a wetland somewhere. That can be challenging." Fireflies are facing numerous threats Like many native species, fireflies are facing numerous threats from artificial light to overdevelopment, the draining of wetlands and the use of chemicals and pesticides. As these threats persist, many have said that they are noticing less fireflies than they used to. "Anecdotal reports describe fewer individuals being seen each year, and while long-term monitoring studies are scarce, some of the data we have are concerning," according to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. In North America, for example, one in three firefly species may be at risk of extinction. Are fireflies disappearing? As fireflies remain a hot topic, many are asking the question, "Are fireflies disappearing?" According to Richard Joyce, conservation biologist for the Xerces Society, the answer is not so simple. "People ask me how fireflies are doing, how their numbers are doing, and I usually have the follow-up question of, 'which species are you talking about?'" said Joyce. "New Jersey has around 30 ... species, and each of those species might have a different trend happening in terms of some species being stable, some might be declining a little bit, and some might be increasing due to recent weather conditions." Joyce continued, "From everything that I've heard about fireflies on the East Coast, I think it has been a good couple of years." For the last three and a half years, Joyce has focused his work with the Xerces Society on firefly conservation, helping to learn more about and protect at-risk species and supporting conservation efforts around the country. Although he is based in Massachusetts, Joyce has visited New Jersey multiple times to conduct firefly surveys. Most recently, he spent time in the salt marshes of the Jersey Shore surveying two localized species: the keel-necked firefly and the salt marsh firefly. The good news, he said, was that these two species were found in places they hadn't been found before, indicating that they are spread across the state's coastal salt marshes and that the population is bigger than originally thought. However, they are still facing multiple threats like sea level rise and water quality issues. New Jersey's most common firefly is the common eastern firefly, also known as the big dipper firefly. Unlike some other species, according to Joyce, the big dipper firefly is very widespread and is adaptable to human impacted landscapes. "There's no population monitoring happening at the species level for fireflies, and even if we were monitoring populations, I would say the big dipper firefly is not one that we would prioritize," said Joyce. "By all measures, it seems to be doing pretty well. It seems to be adapting to urbanization and agriculture and it's really like the little firefly that could." He continued, "From a conservation standpoint, am I worried that the common eastern firefly is about to go extinct? No, not at all. Am I worried about some species of fireflies ... yes, I am." How to help fireflies If you are interested in helping fireflies, there are a few things that you can do right in your own backyard. Some actions you can take, according to Heckscher, Joyce and the Xerces Society, include: Provide habitat for fireflies by setting aside part of your yard or garden where things can "get a little wild." Avoid using chemicals and pesticides in your yard. Turn off your outdoor lights at night, especially during the summer firefly season. Leave things like leaf litter or damp wood in your yard if possible. Fireflies spend most of their lives in the soil and under leaf litter. Get involved! Engage with local municipalities and governments as well as the people who manage your local parks to discuss ways that you can help fireflies in your area. Contribute to the collective firefly knowledge by participating in a community science project, such as the Xerces Society's Firefly Atlas, which allows people to register and submit their firefly sightings. Additionally, according to Joyce, there is a growing movement around the country to establish firefly sanctuaries as places where local species can be protected, studied and admired. "There's some really inspiring stories from around the country of people who have gotten organized to uplift their local lightning bugs and really give them a safe place to live," said Joyce. For more information, visit the Firefly Atlas guide at This article originally appeared on Are fireflies disappearing? New Jersey's lightning bug population Solve the daily Crossword
New York Times
19-07-2025
- Science
- New York Times
Why Fireflies Seem to Be Everywhere This Summer
If you've spent evenings outside this summer in New York City (or anywhere in the Eastern United States, really), you may have noticed an unusually high number of fireflies blinking their lights. We asked experts why the insects appeared to be everywhere. Spring in the city was both warmer and wetter than normal this year — conditions Richard Joyce, a firefly conservationist with the Xerces Society, called 'the perfect recipe' for firefly larvae to thrive. They mature into adults up to two years after being laid as eggs. In the New York metropolitan area, peak firefly activity happens during mating season, in June and July. The bugs start to come out at dusk and are best seen between 9 p.m. and midnight. The fireflies you see glowing are usually males, and they're doing it to attract mates. That's why light pollution is so hard on them, said Lynn Faust, a firefly consultant who has written a guide to the insects — it interrupts their mating rituals. 'They literally cannot find one another in the bright lights,' Ms. Faust said. What's the ideal spot to see fireflies — or lightning bugs, as some refer to them? 'A wet meadow lined at the edges with trees,' Mr. Joyce said. Central Park and Prospect Park are two good locales in the city for firefly displays. As with most insects, the firefly population ebbs and flows each year, and you tend to see more when you're actively looking for them. 'The more someone cares, looks and notices,' Ms. Faust said, 'the more they will see.'
