Lightning bugs where to find

They congregate in colony trees and blink in unison. Other species synchronize their flashes over a few-second period, appearing as waves of light and dark that ripple through the forest. These can be found on the East Coast of the U. Firefly populations are threatened by light pollution. Thus, they have a hard time finding mates. Other potential threats include habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change. Turn off your lights at night during firefly season to ensure you have a beautiful display for years to come.

The views expressed are those of the author s and are not necessarily those of Scientific American. Cheyenne McKinley is a senior biology major at Bucknell University.

Sarah Lower is an assistant professor of biology at Bucknell University. Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue.

See Subscription Options. Discover World-Changing Science. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. Most firefly species have one thing in common: standing water. Vernal pools and small depressions that hold water during firefly mating season can all provide the habitat fireflies need.

Most firefly species live at the margins where forest or field meet water. The larvae are believed to be carnivorous, living off smaller insects, snails and slugs. Fireflies are most commonly found in open fields or forest edges near standing water, depending on the species.

They can be found from riversides in Asia to the open fields of Wisconsin. They prefer hot, humid climates. Their larval stages are usually predatory, eating snails and slugs.

Some species may eat pollen, plants, or other insects. There are over 2, species of firefly out there. Fireflies are quite picky about where they live. Most fireflies glow to attract mates. The males of each species have a specific flashing pattern to attract females. Some species of firefly even synchronize their flashes! There are also some fireflies that use their flashes for a more sinister purpose.

This is important to keep bacteria and mold from growing on the damp paper. If you would like to keep your fireflies alive the longest, use apple slices in your jar.

Fireflies will readily drink the juice from a fresh apple. You can also use grapes, raspberries or other available fruit. These fruits however will rot a lot quicker. Additionally, if you have a mister small or large bottle , use this with distilled water and give the jar a misting occasionally. This is to help keep the environment moist but also simulate the natural environment better. The inside of homes are often very dry and not ideal conditions for firefly survival.