Firefly Magic

Just a couple of guys, looking for love.

Hello cuties! These are two male Photinus pyralis having a photo shoot before being released. Good luck with the ladies, lads!

One of the most magical sights on a June night in the Midwest are fireflies flashing their come-hither lights at each other. I am delighted this year to have lots flitting about the yard and being generally enchanting. How’s your firefly population?

My inlaws live near a piece of undeveloped property commonly called The Field (I know, very imaginative). When my husband I were dating in high school, we’d spray ourselves down in bug repellent and walk into the scrub and tall grasses for the most amazing summer light show. It was a dazzling display and incredibly romantic as thousands of fireflies lit up and twirled. I’ll never forget it.

I’m very fond of the wee buggers. They are instant magic in bug form. Yet, like many of our insects, you may not find many, if any, in your own yard.

Fireflies spend most of their lives as larvae living in the ground or amidst leaf litter before becoming adult beetles. They like a water source as well as tall grasses and trees for shelter. I’ve managed to build a nice welcoming habitat in the garden beds. I let leaf litter and plant detritus compost in place (unless there’s an obvious fungal problem). We have a fountain and four birdbaths. The firefly hotspot in my yard is the rain garden - nice and damp, tall plants, and full of naturally decomposing plant matter. It’s very sparkly on a summer night.

It’s another reason to limit pesticides in the yard, especially mosquito sprays which target firefly habitat. Want to learn more? Visit firefly.org for tons of resources and cool stuff.