How to Turn Your Yard Into a Refuge for Fireflies

Watching blinking fireflies on warm evenings has been a hallmark of American summers for generations. These misnomered insects (they’re actually beetles) not only give us enjoyment, but play a critical role in healthy ecosystems. Unfortunately, this symbol of summer is declining in numbers, due in large part to human habits and behaviors. The good news is that we can help reverse this trend, starting in our own backyards.

Read on to learn how to make your yard safe for fireflies and how you can help encourage their survival for future generations.

Understanding Firefly Environments

There are over 100 firefly species found across most of North America, but only those east of the Rockies blink their bioluminescence on summer evenings. However, all fireflies have certain needs for food, water and shelter that are becoming more difficult to meet in our modern world.

Food: Newly hatched larvae eat voraciously as they grow and mature into adult fireflies. They rely on snails, worms and slugs primarily. “As adults, their diet varies,” Dellinger says. “Some eat nectar or pollen, some eat other firefly species and some don’t eat at all during their short adult life of about two months.”

Water: Fireflies require damp areas with moist soil and high humidity levels. Their primary food sources as larvae (snails and slugs) are found in these environments, and their soft bodies can quickly dehydrate in dry conditions.

Shelter: As they progress through the life cycle, fireflies need different shelter types. Eggs and larvae need leaf litter, fallen logs and damp, healthy soil. Adult needs differ. “Adults require varying heights of vegetation, such as native long grasses, shrubs, and trees, because different species prefer to flash from different heights (some from the ground, others perched high up),” Dellinger says.

Common Threats To Fireflies

Pesticide use, habitat loss, artificial light at night (ALAN) and climate change are all contributing to declining firefly populations.

The Impact of Outdoor Lighting

ALAN is likely the leading reason why we’re seeing fewer fireflies each summer. They need darkness to effectively use their bioluminescence, which serves a critical species function.

“Fireflies are actually beetles that ‘light up’ to attract a mate,” Dellinger says. “Outdoor lighting can interfere with this process, making it harder for the fireflies to find their mates and thereby decreasing the population of the next generation.”

Creating a Natural Firefly Habitat

Encourage fireflies to grow, mate and reproduce in your yard by employing a few simple habits.

Leave the leaves

Instead of raking up and removing all the leaves from your yard in the fall, consider letting some remain as a habitat for firefly larvae. “By leaving the leaves, or moving them to your garden beds to rest undisturbed, you’re supporting entire hidden worlds of wildlife,” Dellinger says.

Leave some woody debris

While rotting logs and sticks may be unsightly on wooded edges, they’re critical hunting grounds for firefly larvae. Leave some in place for hungry larvae to find food.

Plant in layers

Plan your landscape to include a variety of plant heights. “Grow a mix of native canopy trees like native pines, shrubs like buttonbush, and native grasses or wildflowers like switchgrass and goldenrod,” Dellinger says. “This gives them places to seek shelter and different heights to flash from.”

Reconsider manicured lawns

Plant native plants along lawn edges, especially those that border wooded areas. Native plants don’t require pesticides or fertilizers like grass does, allowing fireflies to flourish. Also, consider mowing a section of your lawn less frequently. “Female fireflies frequently sit on tall blades of grass waiting for males to flash overhead,” Dellinger suggests.

Fix your lighting

Avoid outdoor lights, especially at dusk or early evening, to allow fireflies to find each other in the darkness. If security lights are non-negotiable, switch to motion-activated lighting and use yellow bulbs, which are less disruptive to firefly mating signals.

Avoiding Pesticides

Pesticides used to prevent mosquitoes, grubs and ticks are also killing fireflies. Lawn treatments like grub killers inadvertently kill firefly larvae’s main food source, leading to fewer fireflies reaching adulthood. Tick and mosquito pesticides kill adult fireflies on contact.

Instead of pesticides, adopt integrated pest management techniques to keep pest populations down. For mosquitoes, remove standing water and plant aromatic plants like citronella instead. Apply milky spore to lawns to kill damaging grubs and add nematodes (harmless worms that feed on grubs in the soil).

FAQ

Do fireflies need water?

Fireflies must have damp, humid conditions to survive.

When are fireflies most active?

Fireflies are most active at dusk. “To see the fireflies, go outside as the sun is going down but it’s not completely dark yet,” Dellinger says. “They emerge in late spring-early summer.”

 About the Experts

• Julie Dellinger is a marketing director and content creator at Garden for Wildlife, a National Wildlife Federation program that promotes native gardening education.

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