| Fireflies are one of our most charismatic insects, lighting up summer evenings with their brilliant courtship displays. There are several things that we can do in our own yards to provide safe habitats for them, and they will pay us back with more than just their nightly light shows. 1) Fireflies spend most of their lives as larvae, residing in the soil, leaf litter, and decaying wood in your yards. Â Keeping a layer of leaves in woodland gardens provides the shelter they need. 2) Water is necessary for fireflies to thrive, and it also attracts important prey species. Maintaining water features or allowing low spots in your yard to remain damp can help them greatly. 3) Artificial lights disrupt the courtship behavior of fireflies, so turning off outdoor lights improves their ability to find each other and reproduce. |
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| Figure 1. Firefly exploring Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) 4) Avoid the use of pesticides, which may harm their prey or the fireflies themselves. 5) Mow less frequently or reduce the amount of mowed lawn in your yards. Â Mowing endangers the adults as they rest throughout the day and reduces the amount of shelter that taller grass provides. 6) Plant native plants! While fireflies are predators as larvae and sometimes as adults too, planting native plants provides them with habitat and attracts a wide range of prey species. Â Some adults also eat pollen and other plant matter, if they eat at all. As we’ve alluded to, fireflies are predators that prey upon a variety of invertebrates. Many common garden pests like slugs and snails are primary targets for the larvae, meaning that they will help keep your plants looking great if you provide them with habitat without the use of pesticides. We hope these tips will give you some ideas to help make your yard firefly friendly! |
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| Figure 2. Firefly perched on Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) |
July 2023 Newsletter
