Firefly Conservation

A lot of things in nature can feel magical, especially things we feel emotionally attached to. However, some parts of nature capture the feeling of magic a little more visibly than others. Some things just make us go, “Wow…”

One bit of magical nature that we find in our own backyards is the firefly. Anyone who grew up in the Midwest can recall the wonder of watching fireflies. Their scattered lights flutter through the air as if fairies were flying by lamp light through the night. Kids race into the yard to catch the glowing beetles while parents watch from the porch. The grass tickles everyone’s toes. Once the sun has fully set and the porch lights are off, there seems to be no break between the twinkling bugs and the twinkling stars above.

Here’s a little Iowa win — ISU insect diagnostician Zach Schumm is reporting that firefly populations are up this summer! This is a little odd since firefly populations have been in decline for a few decades. Nationally, populations are still declining. Experts aren’t sure why Iowa fireflies seem to be having a better summer, but we can still enjoy the population resurgence as we sit on our decks in the evening.

While we appreciate the magic of the firefly this summer, we can also support firefly populations. Here’s a few things you can do to support fireflies in your area or across the state.

1. Turn off outdoor lights. Fireflies use their blinking lights to communicate. When electric lights illuminate firefly habitats, it interferes with their ability to communicate and mate. Turn off your own exterior lights to welcome fireflies into  your own backyard (and bring down the energy bill).
   
   Want to think bigger? Consider starting a dark skies initiative in your area. Dark skies initiatives reduce light pollution in a town or certain area for a set amount of time by turning off or reducing exterior lights. Convincing your community to turn off lights will help local wildlife, like fireflies, and create great conditions for stargazing or firefly-gazing.

2. Provide some firefly habitat. Firefly larvae live in moist places under leaf litter, rotting logs and moss or in shallow dirt tunnels. Resisting the urge to clean your yard of all leaf litter can help larva survive. And the relationship is reciprocal! Firefly larvae eat slugs and other pests that could threaten your strawberry patch in the spring.
   
   Want to think bigger? Fireflies face a lot of habitat loss. In Iowa, prairies are beneficial to firefly populations. Look for prairie reconstruction initiatives in your area. Volunteer to collect native prairie seeds or donate to prairie conservation work. You can also plant native grasses and forbs to create a micro-prairie in your own yard.

3. Contribute to a community science project. Scientists in several organizations noticed a lack of firefly data, so they started collecting information about firefly populations with the power of community science! The Fireflyers International Network collects global reports of fireflies on iNaturalist, and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation launched Firefly Atlas to track species in North America. Though the Firefly Atlas focuses on areas they deem key firefly conservation areas, they stress that data from around North America helps their mission.
   
   Want to think bigger? Make data collection a real community project. Start a group that collects science data together. Look for interested community members on online forums specific to your area, advertise with a flyer on community billboards in local businesses and libraries or reach out to a conservation group in your area and see if they can collaborate.

Remember to do what you can, when you can. Conservation of any species is a big goal and takes a lot of people doing what they can to reach those goals. No matter how you’re able to help, remember to appreciate the nightly firefly light show this summer. Consider turning your porch light off when you sit down — the show will be so much more magical.