One bug, two names

Fireflies and lightning bugs are the same family of soft-bodied beetles. The common eastern firefly, Photinus pyralis, is the one most Americans grew up catching.

“People call them fireflies across much of the United States and lower Canada, while the name lightning bugs is most common east of the Rocky Mountains.”

They want it damp

Forests, meadows and wetlands are firefly country. Western species often skip the big light shows entirely, so what you see depends a lot on where you live.

Put down the pesticide

Broad-spectrum insecticides kill fireflies outright and starve them too. Larvae eat other insects' larvae, so wiping out the small stuff empties their pantry.

“If you eliminate these from your yard, lightning bugs may leave, too.”

Add some water

Larvae grow in moist soil and rotting logs. A rain garden or a small pond gives adults a reason to mate in your yard and lay eggs there.

“Fireflies like it wet!”

Lose some lawn

Turf has shallow roots that hold little moisture, and mown blades give nothing to perch on during mating. Swap in a mix of native plants instead.

Stop raking everything

Many lightning bugs overwinter in the damp layer fallen leaves create. Rake leaves into your garden beds as mulch rather than bagging them.

“Leave the leaves.”

Kill the yard lights

Insects that talk in flashes lose the conversation under floodlights. Use fixtures you can switch off, and aim outdoor light only at paths and doorways.

Two years underground

Eggs hatch in 2 to 3 weeks, then larvae, sometimes called glowworms, can feed in soil and leaf litter for up to two years before pupating.

“As adults, they usually live only a few weeks.”

The glow is chemistry

Organs in the abdomen mix chemicals and enzymes with oxygen, and the beetle controls the flash to warn off predators or find a mate. Most adults never eat at all.

“Females of the Photuris genus lure in and eat males of other firefly species!”