Fascinating Fireflies

The following information was contributed by HBCA member Dianne Logan.

Hillside Beach is home to Fireflies which are one of the most intriguing species in the insect world.  In early summer, (June and July), they start a courting ritual that delights anyone who stays up late enough to watch them twinkling and flashing in your yards.
 
To show that they are available, the male Fireflies show off by flying around signaling to the females.  The females usually sit at the top of tall blades of grass or on a tree branch watching for a possible mate.  If she’s impressed, she will flash her light to attract him.  He will flash back at her indicating his interest.  After mating, she can lay as many as 500 eggs in the ground.  When the numbers of mature Fireflies are plentiful, they can light up your yard and bushes in a magical display.
 
The Firefly population is in decline at Hillside Beach and around the world due to loss of habitat.  However, it is very easy to nurture fireflies in your yard and neighbourhood.  They thrive in damp conditions and they prefer total darkness at night.  It’s best for us to observe them when it’s dark.
 

• Consider a water feature in your yard or provide a damp environment.
• Turn off the lights in June and July.  The main reason for declining populations is artificial lighting.  Consider turning off lights in your yard, garden, patio, and even in the room if the window faces the patch you’re cultivating for Fireflies.  Solar lights can be the culprit.  
•  Leave a patch of your yard with tall grass and weeds.
•  Chemicals such as fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides kill the Firefly larvae, pupae and adults. – Consider keeping a section of your yard chemical free.
•  Keep some rotting wood at the edge of your yard.  They are attracted to this.
•  Plant a native pine in your yard.  Some species will lay eggs on pine needles.  It’s a good roosting tree for them.

I have noticed a decline in the number of fireflies we see each summer at Hillside Beach.   It would be a shame to lose this treasure in our community.  Some places in Asia had totally lost all their Fireflies and have now set aside parks just for them and reintroduced them.  People flock to see them.  Let’s not wait till we’re in that situation.  Let’s protect and nurture our Fireflies now.  Biodiversity is an asset to every community.  
 
​Dianne Logan