A question for DUERS from Florida and other warm southern states.

[Blue_true]

When I was a child growing up, I used to see large swarms of fireflies come out as the sky was darkening and fly around for two or three hours, their little lights flicking on and off. They were somewhat of a nuisance for my parents because they would get crushed against the windshields and grills of their vehicles.

I guess I noticed it a while ago, but placed no meaning to it. Today, I don't see many fireflies at all, maybe occasionally, a small few.

What have those of you in the states that I referenced noticed? Could the change be due to pesticides? Changes in the environment that are hostile to the bugs?

[ExciteBike66]

1. I have this same thought regularly, although slightly modified

I am from Connecticut, and I remember well the fireflies (lightning bugs, we called them).

Down here in central FL, I NEVER see these. Now the only things that spatter my car windshield are the love-bugs.

[RKP5637]

2. Why are fireflies disappearing?

This gives a pretty good summary. Humans are likely on the list too, eventually.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/why-are-fireflies-disappearing

Do you have a summer firefly memory? I have many, having grown up next to a wetland. I knew it was finally summer when I would be outside playing after dinner and those little flying lights appeared. I imagined each light was a fairy with trailing long blonde hair like my own at the time.

But like bees, amphibians and butterflies, fireflies are disappearing. While the exact reason isn't known, three main factors are suspected: Habitat loss, toxic chemicals (which tend to linger in aquatic environments where fireflies start their lives) and light pollution.

[Blue_true]

4. Interesting. I noticed from observation, you gave some science.

Truly sad, they were the highlights of an end to a summer day, just watching them fly around.

[Orsino]

3. It's a little early yet in Georgia, after a long cool spell.

I saw one firefly in the grass the other morning, but none were visible in the woods.

[Blue_true]

7. I didn't notice many last summer, or the one before.

You may live in a more rural location that I do, but I have been at my brothers farm in the country and I don't notice them there either, even in the nearby woods.

[dawg]

5. They are less common in Northern Georgia than they were back in the day.

June bugs, too.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

6. I'll see the occasional solo lightning bug but not the swarms I saw growing up in Maryland. nt

[smirkymonkey]

8. I grew up in upstate New York and I remember them.

I go back about once every summer but never see them anymore. I never really thought about it until you mentioned it. Kind of sad, actually.

[Solly Mack]

9. Urban lights, development, and pesticides do change where they mate/survival rate.

You mainly see them after they emerge to mate - all the display of light.

The brighter the area the less effective those calls to mate are - so you see them more where there is less light. Even car lights change their light patterns (for calling mates).

Habitat loss due to development - they need decaying wood, wooded areas, and also near ponds and streams - leaf litter to survive in the larvae stage.

Pesticides are also a problem.

[MaryMagdaline]

10. I saw them as a child in Georgia and Maryland

Don't think I've ever seen them in Florida. Been here 36 years

[OriginalGeek]

11. I was born in Florida

but I lived in MD for a little while in my youth and visited my cousins many times near Baltimore. Some of my favorite memories were of catching fireflies with them in the summer. I've lived back in FL for almost 40 years and never seen one here.

But I used to see clouds of love bugs everywhere during the love bug season. I can't remember the last time I saw a love bug.

[MaryMagdaline]

14. Uggh! When the oranges are ripe - driving through

Middle of state, but you're right, I don't know if love bugs are as prevalent as they once were.

We used to catch fire flies in jars in Maryland. Really cool.

[NickB79]

12. I'm up North (MN), but we have tons of them in summer

Really prevalent in grassy ditches when it's been raining a lot.

[mcar]

13. I remember them well growing up in PA

I have rarely seen them in my 25 years in FL.