Even as Fireflies Light Up This Summer, They Still Struggle

Fireflies are lighting up summer evenings across the Northeast, putting on dazzling shows in backyards and city parks. There's no official count, but experts say a particularly wet spring may have created the ideal conditions for young fireflies to grow into adults to set summer nights aglow. Fireflies light the night everywhere: There are over 2,000 known species across the globe. They use their characteristic flashes to communicate and find the perfect mate. In New York City, the lightning bugs are out in the five boroughs, sparkling once the sun goes down in places like Central Park and Prospect Park. The summer months are ideal to spot them as they start to dwindle throughout the month of August.

Though northeastern nights may seem brighter this summer, the AP reports that the bugs are still on the decline and they're waning at a faster rate than ever before. "It would be a mistake to say firefly populations are high this year, therefore there's no decline," said Matt Schlesinger with the New York Natural Heritage Program, who is part of an effort to count fireflies in state parks. Habitat loss, pesticide use and light pollution are responsible for a decline in population. In cities, blaring lights from billboards, cars, and storefronts can drown out the bugs' glow, making it harder for them to find their kin and pass their genes onto the next generation.

Fireflies are part of the story of summer, said entomologist Jessica Ware with the American Museum of Natural History. Her children grew up seeing them flash in her backyard, but the bugs started to disappear once her kids hit their teenage years. In the past few months, her family has seen the fireflies come back. Their return made her think about all the kids who are glimpsing the glowing bugs for the very first time. "It shouldn't be new," Ware said. "It should be something that is a universal part of summer." To look out for fireflies, consider turning the lights off at night and avoid spraying front lawns with insecticides. "We still need to do some work ourselves, to change our behavior, to really make sure that large populations can continue to stay large," Ware said.