Help them continue to shine bright

Photo Credit: Radim Schreiber, fireflyexperience.org

As summer winds to a close we thought we’d take a quick look at the extinction danger for lightning bugs (aka fireflies) and learn how we can help these and other insects survive.

A Few Facts About the Lightning Bugs in New Jersey

Their life cycle is egg, larva, pupa and adult.

Eggs are laid on or just below the surface of the ground.
Larvae live in the ground/leaf litter eating other insects, snails and worms.
Larvae hibernate underground or on trees in the winter and emerge in the spring,
A lightning bug spends 1 to 2 years as a larva, and then pupates.
Adults emerge 1 to 2 1/2 weeks later and are toxic to their predators.

Adults light up via a chemical reaction in their lower abdomen and flash to communicate. Lighting up is essential to the adults; they count on being visible to survive:

The pattern of flashes attracts and communicates with mates.
Flashing wards off attacks, reminding predators, “Don’t eat me, I’m toxic”.

What Threatens Lightning Bug Survival?

The pressures that these insects face are similar to the pressures that pollinators and other insects face as well. Loss of habitat - when we remove leaves from our yards we inadvertently destroy larvae homes and kill lightning bugs. Light pollution from house and street lighting - the bright lights obscure flashes so lightning bugs cannot find mates or ward off predators. Chemicals in our yards lead to lightning bug death. They kill the lightning bugs and the other insects they eat.

WAYS TO HELP LIGHTNING BUGS

Leave the leaves under trees, bushes and flowers to provide a home year round.
Reduce or redirect night time lighting to save wildlife and energy, use these National Park Service tips
Use mosquito dunks to kill only mosquitos vs spraying which kills all the bugs in the area.

Take steps now so this spectacular nighttime display continues to provide summer night magic.

Read more at firefly.org and xerces.org

Family Activity:
Firefly scientists are in urgent need of your observations.
Record your Firefly Sightings!