Firefly Facts

Fireflies are not flies but are soft bodied beetles and like all beetles they undergo metamorphosis with 4 distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The complete lifecycle takes a couple of months to a couple of years. Most of their time is spent in the larval stage feeding upon soft-bodied invertebrates.

They have surprisingly short life spans – the adults live for only one season. Most of that time is spent searching for a mate. Once mated, the females lay their eggs and die shortly thereafter. Most fireflies pupate underground or in rotting logs. Adults typically emerge in late spring.

They’re energy efficient. A firefly’s glowing tail uses 100% of the energy it produces to emit light. In contrast, the normal incandescent bulb wastes 90% of its energy as heat and only provides 10% as light. Fireflies produce a “cold light,” with no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies. The light may be yellow, green, or pale red.

Fireflies are culturally significant worldwide. In fact, in Japan, there are parks set aside for the pleasure of firefly viewing.

You can help bring back the Fireflies

• Install a water feature in your garden.
• Provide habitat. Let log and leaf litter accumulate.
• Turn off outdoor lights at night. You will never see fireflies under a streetlight! Their mating flashes need the darkness.
• Avoid pesticide use. The best thing you can do to support fireflies is stop using lawn chemicals and broad spectrum pesticides. Firefly larvae eat other undesirable insects, so they are nature’s natural pest control.
• Plant a garden. Fireflies lend a hand controlling slugs, grubs, and other pests. Plus, females need a place to lay their eggs.
• Add compost and leaves to the soil.
• Plant trees and native grasses. This helps retain soil moisture.
• Don’t over-mow your lawn. Invest in areas of native groundcover and leave parts of the lawn natural.
• Don’t rake leaves and bag them for the trash. You are raking up firefly larvae and removing them.