I was startled to see fireflies yesterday evening (at dusk). I hadn't seen them for a LONG time...

[CTyankee]

they were hovering around a lilac bush that was recently planted.

Is this a sign that something is improving in our ecological world here at my house in Connecticut?

[ChazII]

1. Living in the Arizona desert

I don't have a scientific answer for you. I am however, envious that you have fireflies and the desert does not. Enjoy them and the joy they bring.

[lagomorph777]

3. But you have chiggers and sand flies, right?

So, there's that.

[ChazII]

4. These critters do not bring joy

do they? While fireflies seem to make people happy.

[lagomorph777]

9. Fireflies really do make people smile.

I still smile at them like I'm five years old.

[hlthe2b]

6. They like humidity. So, sadly, none throughout the west/southwest. I miss them.

[lagomorph777]

2. We've had fewer than usual this year in the Mid Atlantic region.

Maybe just random fluctuation; most years they are pretty busy here.

[stillcool]

5. they were here early this year...

then they seemed to take a break, and are now back, but there's not as many. My husband is into astronomy, so we're out when they are

[luvs2sing]

7. There are fewer than usual this year..

here in Columbus. Or maybe the weather has been so damn miserable that I haven’t been out much to see them.

[Jilly_in_VA]

8. We have a lot

here in the Upper Shenandoah. Maybe not quite as many as some years I can remember, but a lot. They are better in wetter years, and we had lots of rain early in the summer. They also like tall grass, and husband hasn't mowed ours as much as he usually does.

[kentuck]

10. I have seen more butterflies this year than in a very long time.

I don't know what it means?

[Hoyt]

11. Have not seen one this year. When younger, I would see a 100 in an hour.

[Botany]

12. Fireflies and or Lighting Bugs are not a fly or a bug

They are beetles. If you want more of them plant native
plants, leave things messy in the fall and winter, and avoid insecticides. Most of their life cycle is as a grub around the surface or subsurface in the leaf litter eating other little critters and the last 1 to 2 months of their 2 year life cycle is their studio 54 time. They don't eat, they have sex, they flash, they make eggs and then they die.

[CTyankee]

13. My daughter who is a landscape engineer was disappointed that I didn't replace the bush with one tha

was native to CT. I was overruled in the decision. She was not happy. I told her I made the case for
a native plant.