this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2025
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Science Memes

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[–] [email protected] 47 points 5 days ago (3 children)

Fireflies are fascinating and beautiful creatures. Another user mentioned donating to xerces society which is a great idea. Another thing that you can do if you are fortunate enough to own land is to replace your lawn (non-native, mowed grass) with native plants and leave the fallen leaves undisturbed.

I replaced my entire lawn with species native to my region and my entire yard is currently covered in multiple species of fireflies. It's so magical to see all the different colors and flashing patterns. Mind you, I live in the city so it's only my yard that is really providing for them. All my neighbors' yards have either no fireflies or a few.

You don't have to replace your entire lawn like I did. Just setting aside some space for our wildlife neighbors is better than nothing. Remember plants are the foundation of almost every food web. For me, it's magical to go outside and see the new blooms and growth, look for new creatures that show up, and just walk the little paths in my small yard. In an age of ecologic collapse and climate change it gives me some sense that I can have a measurable, positive impact and that really helps me mentally.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I do not have a lawn, I have several ha of forest and grassland. I have about 25 nest boxes for wild birds, occupied 2/3 (last year I had a huge owl living in one!) and countless other nests, several snakes, snails and frogs, lynx and I see bear tracks and scats now and then. I keep bees and allow wasps to build wherever they like, there are lots of bumblebees everywhere and birds sure have something to eat. I mulch a lot and keep loads of rotting leaves. I mow with scythe when I absolutely have to clear small area. I know there are fireflies in Finland.

Never saw a single blink.

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[–] [email protected] 65 points 5 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 28 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I've seen them once in my life, in Smoky Mountains, about 10 years ago. It was pretty much spiritual experience. The darkness came alive. I cried when I saw their luciferase smeared over windshield and glowing long after the creature was dead. I knew lots of lore about them, saw them in mass culture - never realizing I never saw one myself, even though I take care to notice all living things around, from bacteria and yeast to mycchorizal networks.

I live in Europe.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

Aww bless. That's where I live. My yard is still full of em at night, I've made sure of it.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 days ago

thats okay. we dont need things that dont make capitalists more money.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 days ago

The dad then joins his son laying on the floor and crying

[–] [email protected] 12 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I miss seeing these everywhere in the summer as a kid. Guess I just aged myself lol, but I did see some in the park last night. Nowhere near as many as years ago though.

[–] [email protected] 160 points 5 days ago (11 children)

They were everywhere when I was a kid. I haven’t seen one in years.

They were so delightful, and I miss them.

[–] [email protected] 105 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (12 children)

I stopped mowing super regularly and my yard is full of em

Let the weeds grow, let the forest in. I'm in the Smokies fwiw

[–] [email protected] 38 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (5 children)

Same

They’re back, and they’re happy with my mess of a lawn.

I don’t think my lawn will ever look like a golf course, there was an above ground pool at one point so one area is packed densely and full of gravel sized rocks.

We threw down some clover, there’s wild strawberry, one spot has mint (I’ve been told trying to remove it is a sisyphusian task). It’s cozy now, and I guess the fireflies like cozy, and I like watching them from my patio.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 5 days ago

Don’t rake your leaves

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I've seen two this year.

I've seen More bald eagles land in the yard year than I have seen lightning bugs.

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 5 days ago (1 children)

YMMV but i still see lots right around dusk at the edges of wetland areas. Not denying they are threatened but there are still some places they are able to live and those places should be protected. Wetlands do a lot more for us ecologically and hydrologically speaking than just fireflies anyway and are one of the most important ecosystems to be protected.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 days ago (2 children)

We just moved to a house with over an acre and a creek that runs through the back yard and we have them all over the place right now.

My dog had never seen them before and i caught him this week trying to eat them. One would flash and he'd chomp towards it, then another would and he seemed confused on how it got over there so fast and hed chomp that direction. It was precious

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Source? :(

Please I need to know!

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