Capturing a firefly is like capturing a star. It’s a basic memory for many American children: the fresh summer evening air, the far-off choruses of insects and frogs, and the dazzling brightness of a firefly tenderly cradled between a child’s hands. These fascinating insects may be found in every state of the continental United States, with some places boasting more than 50 species! Like many insects too, the firefly are undergoing a severe fall.
It’s believed that one in three firefly species may be in risk of extinction. And the very yards that Americans want to see fill with firefly are really a significant reason why. Yard insecticides mixed with the lack of habitat that lawns provide for these insects play a big influence in the loss of firefly. Luckily, that implies that how you care for your yard or garden may also be an important part of the answer for protecting these cherished bugs. Learn how you can transform your garden into a firefly-friendly habitat this summer and become a firefly champion!
1. Create Habitat by Planting Native and Reducing Lawn
Turf grass provides very little, if any, habitat for firefly. Many firefly species depend on wet soil, abundant landing spots in the plants, and even some flowers for nectar and pollen supplies. Turf grass struggles to offer these habitat characteristics. Its thin roots do little to manage soil moisture when contrasted with deep-rooted native plants. Meanwhile, when turf grass is mown, it is too short to allow much area for the fireflies to land and signal using their flickering patterns to locate a spouse. Some firefly species even ingest nectar and pollen in their mature stages and will need nectar-filled summer flowers which grass can not give.
Replacing parts of grass with native plant beds that offer a range of species is a good approach to build the base of a healthy habitat for fireflies and hundreds of other wildlife species including butterflies, bees, and songbirds.
2. Leave the Leaves and Logs
Have you ever seen a baby firefly? Like many insects, fireflies begin their existence looking a bit different from their adult forms. These fireflies have a larval stage in which they’re known as “glowworms”. In this larva stage, many species of firefly spend their days in the wet layer of leaves and logs on the ground. If all of the leaves are raked and sent away in yard trash bags, the glowworms either lose their habitat or are even carried away as part of the yard rubbish! Without a healthy leaf covering, many fireflies would never even make it to adulthood.
Instead of hauling away your fallen leaves, use them as a natural mulch in garden beds where they may give home for the glowworms and many other creatures too, such caterpillars and salamanders!
3. Add in a Water Source
Fireflies flourish in wetter settings. In fact, some of their larval phases even possessing gills! Adding in a water source like a small pond will go far in attracting many different types of fireflies to your landscape. The water supply will produce a wetter atmosphere in the soil and sustain other insects that become food for the firefly (did you know that many fireflies are carnivores as larva?).
If you have worries about mosquitoes, you can just add a mosquito dip to the water supply, which does not affect the firefly or other beneficial creatures that come! You may also create a bat home to attract mosquito-eating predators to frequent your yard; bats don’t normally consume fireflies owing to the poisonous substances they contain.
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4. Avoid Pesticides
Even if fireflies have all they need to live in your garden, it will all be for vain if they become the victims of lawn herbicides. The herbicides that many Americans use on their lawns and gardens damage many more species than they are meant to target. Not only that, but they also often wash off into local rivers where they continue to wreak havoc! Skip the lawn pesticides to aid the firefly and so many other animal species.
5. Reduce Light Pollution
For the lucky fireflies that do make it to adulthood, many will still have to struggle with human-made barriers. In order to select a partner of their same species, fireflies will communicate via distinctive light-blinking patterns. Artificial light sources like landscape and house lights might make this procedure harder for fireflies. Opt for turning your exterior lights off or place them on a motion-detector to lessen their impact. Other fauna like moths and even numerous bird species will also thank you for this easy move!
Become a Firefly Champion
Turning your yard or garden into a firefly-friendly environment may have a significant impact. But your garden is part of a wider ecosystem that includes all of your neighbors’ yards too! promote your knowledge on how to assist these beautiful bugs and consider having your garden certified and putting a sign out to promote what you are doing to protect wildlife!
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