Far from extinction, fireflies seem to be thriving in summer 2025
"Fireflies and their prey (snails, slugs, worms) need moisture, so years with high rainfall, particularly in the spring, can boost populations of fireflies in the summer," said Candace Fallon, a conservation biologist with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
And warm, humid nights of 70 degrees or warmer are ideal for seeing the flashing lights that evoke nostalgia for many Americans, Virginia Tech entomologist Eric Day told USA TODAY.
It's hard to know for sure, but it appears that the whimsical bugs are indeed thriving in some areas.
What is known: Fears of fireflies' imminent demise are misplaced, Day said.
'I would say fireflies are threatened due to habitat loss, but they are not going extinct, as some are adapting in different regions,' Day said.
Indeed, of the 175 species of fireflies in the US, only 18 of are "threatened" with extinction, said Fallon. So while it's not good news for those few species, overall, "I don't think we're going to lose fireflies in our lifetimes," she told USA TODAY.
Are firefly populations up in summer 2025?
Fallon said in an email to USA TODAY that "from anecdotal reports, it does appear that at least the Midwest and Northeast are seeing record numbers of fireflies."
She added that "we have heard from several areas of the country that folks are seeing an increase in fireflies this year, while in other regions we're been hearing the opposite."
Day agreed, noting that it all depends on location, with rural areas typically seeing more fireflies while urban and suburban areas seeing fewer.
Why do people care about fireflies?
Whether you call them fireflies or lightning bugs, these illuminated insects are a sure sign of lazy, hot summer evenings. Many remember the thrill of running after them as a kid, trying to capture them in glass jars.
"Fireflies evoke memories for people," Day told USA TODAY. "They harken back to our childhoods, reminding us of other times."
"They're one of the most pleasant insects to come across... it a good thing to see fireflies," he added.
Are fireflies a threatened or endangered species?
Day said that generally, the answer to that is yes in urban areas, but to a lesser extent in rural areas.
Fallon explained further: "While there are currently no listed firefly species under the US Endangered Species Act, one species (the Bethany Beach firefly) has been proposed for listing as a threatened species, and two others (the Florida intertidal firefly and Southwest spring firefly) are under review for listing."
Overall, threatened firefly species are found in 16 states, all the way from Arizona to New York (see map below).
As well, Fallon said two additional species have been petitioned (the mysterious lantern firefly and the loopy five firefly) but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has not yet published 90-day findings on those species (in which they determine whether a full review for listing is warranted), Fallon explained.
What are the main threats to fireflies?
According to Fallon, "firefly populations are threatened by habitat loss and degradation, light pollution (which makes it difficult for fireflies to communicate with one another), pesticide use (which can kill them or their prey, or damage their habitat), and climate change (including drought, sea level rise, and storms)."
How might climate change impact fireflies?
"Because fireflies require moisture, drought related to climate change is a leading threat to fireflies, particularly in the arid West," Fallon told USA TODAY. "In some places, streams that were once perennial have now dried up, and in other areas, marshy areas and other wetlands have also disappeared. These once-perennial water sources are hugely important to fireflies, and their loss can lead to the loss of local populations."
Fallon added that on the East Coast, sea-level rise and increased storm surges are having negative impacts on fireflies. In many coastal areas, firefly habitat is already hemmed in by human development on one side and the ocean on the other. As sea level rises, these habitat patches are disappearing.
"In the case of increased severity and frequency of storm surges, the inundation of firefly habitats with saltwater can increase the salinity of a site, changing its vegetative makeup and making it uninhabitable for fireflies," Fallon said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
38 minutes ago
- USA Today
Lawmakers want independent re-do of Air Force missile community cancer study
The Air Force started studying cancer rates in the nuclear missile community in 2023 due to pressure from ailing missile officers. Lawmakers may soon order an independent re-do of an ongoing Air Force study on possible cancer risk in personnel manning its nuclear missiles. A provision in the House's draft defense policy bill would, if passed, require the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to commission a study examining "occupational health and safety conditions" in Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile facilities. The sites include the underground alert facilities where Air Force missile officers spend long shifts prepared to launch in the case of nuclear war. The move comes after an independent researcher concluded there is an increase in cases of a rare cancer at an Air Force missile base in Montana, adding another wrinkle to a years-long push for answers. The new, congressionally directed research would also scrutinize the methodology and design of an ongoing Air Force study of the issue. The Air Force Medical Service and Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees the service's nuclear-armed missile and bomber forces, began studying the missile community's cancer risks in 2023 after a Space Force officer compiled a list of cancer diagnoses at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. The Air Force study's preliminary findings indicated troops in the nuclear missile community don't have higher cancer diagnosis or death rates than other active duty servicemembers or the general U.S. population. The official study's environmental surveys, however, confirmed the presence of polychorinated biphenyls − a likely cancer-causing chemical − in alert facilities at Malmstrom and at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. And an independent assessment of self-reported Non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases at Malmstrom released in April found an increase in diagnoses among missileers. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, submitted the independent study amendment, which cleared a key hurdle when it passed the House Armed Services Committee on July 16. Bacon told USA TODAY that a meeting with one of his constituents − an ailing retired missile officer − moved him to author the provision. "Let's make sure that we have some outside experts working with the Air Force," said Bacon, who is a retired Air Force brigadier general. "We want to make sure there's credibility and, whatever results come out, that we've done total due diligence." The Omaha-based representative added that the Air Force needs to learn what's wrong in the aging Minuteman III launch facilities before it builds new ones for the planned Sentinel ICBM. Air Force officials defended the rigor and transparency of their ongoing study in a statement to USA TODAY. "We welcome the opportunity of scientific and medical professionals to review Air Force studies and to provide comments," said Alana Miller, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Air Force Surgeon General. Miller emphasized the internal independence of Air Force epidemiologists conducting the study and their partnerships with external researchers who review their findings. The Torchlight Initiative, an advocacy group for missile community members, praised the independent study amendment in a press release. Torchlight has documented more than 800 self-reported cases of cancer and other exposure-related diseases among ICBM airmen and veterans. "There is an urgent need for ... thorough independent research, formal acknowledgement of likely exposures, and a sustained commitment to safeguard future personnel through enhanced environmental monitoring," the group argued. For the independent study to occur, the provision must make it into the final defense policy bill later this year. The House and Senate typically pass competing versions of the legislation before negotiating a compromise bill for the president's signature. Davis Winkie's role covering nuclear threats and national security at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Outrider Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.
Axios
an hour ago
- Axios
A heat dome and "corn sweat" are driving this week's dangerous heat wave
A heat dome — plus the "corn sweat" phenomenon in some areas — is bringing dangerous levels of heat and humidity to much of the country east of the Rockies this week. Why it matters: Heat warnings and advisories stretch from Louisiana and the Florida panhandle up to Chicago and beyond as of Tuesday afternoon, covering nearly 85 million Americans. Driving the news: The main driver is hot, moist air being drawn up from the Atlantic and trapped by a high pressure ridge. Also contributing in some places: "Corn sweat," wherein vast amounts of growing corn and other produce give off moisture through evapotranspiration, further increasing humidity levels in and around agricultural zones. "While corn sweat is never the main reason for major heat," Axios Des Moines' Linh Ta wrote back in 2023, "it can add to it." What they're saying: " This is the time of the year when humidity contributions from corn sweat are highest — around the time of tasseling and pollination, when the flower emerges from the corn stalk," as Iowa state climatologist Justin Glisan told the Washington Post. Zoom in: Conditions could be particularly brutal in Chicago, where the local National Weather Service office is warning of heat indices over 105°F for Wednesday and Thursday. High humidity is especially dangerous, as Axios' Tina Reed and Natalie Daher recently reported, disrupting our bodies' ability to regulate temperatures. Threat level: Long-duration heat waves can be particularly serious events, with warm evenings offering less of a reprieve and extreme heat having a cumulative effect on our health. Extreme heat is the most deadly weather event in the U.S., and research has shown that human-driven climate change is making such events both more intense and more frequent. What they're saying: " Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors," the NWS Milwaukee office advises.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Map Shows States Where Northern Lights Could Be Visible Tonight, Tomorrow
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Americans in multiple northern states may have a chance to see the northern lights this week. According to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), the aurora borealis could be visible in as many as 14 states over Tuesday and Wednesday night. Why It Matters While NOAA's forecast may not guarantee a sighting, it offers a somewhat rare chance for residents of states ranging from Washington to Maine to witness the celestial phenomenon. What To Know According to the SWPC's viewline forecast, the aurora borealis may be visible over parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, the SWPC forecasts the northern lights could be seen over parts of Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, and along New York's northern border with Canada. The SWPC explains that the northern lights occur when electrons collide with the upper reaches of Earth's atmosphere. These electrons get a boost of energy in an area of Earth's magnetic field on the night side of the planet. Once energized, they then traverse along the magnetic field toward the polar regions. When they hit gases like oxygen and nitrogen high in the sky, they transfer their energy to those gases, which "excites" them. As the gases calm back down, they release that energy as glowing light. During "large" events, the aurora may be visible as far south as parts of the United States, Europe, and Asia. In "very large" events, it can be seen even further away from the polar regions. In addition to clear skies, visibility can depend on factors such as low light pollution and the intensity of the aurora at any given time. Even in areas within the forecast's visibility band, cloud cover or city lights may prevent a sighting. These Space Weather Prediction Center maps show the potential viewlines for the northern lights on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. These Space Weather Prediction Center maps show the potential viewlines for the northern lights on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. SWPC What People Are Saying Space Weather Prediction Center operations chief Mike Bettwy previously told Newsweek: "General tips include viewing late at night, away from city lights, and taking pictures with your iPhone or other technology since the aurora may be visible on those devices even though the human eye may not always detect it." The Space Weather Prediction Center says: "The aurora is not visible during daylight hours. The aurora does not need to be directly overhead but can be observed from as much as 1000 km away when the aurora is bright and if conditions are right." What Happens Next The SWPC issues frequent forecast updates. Anyone hoping to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis should consult the latest outlook and head to dark, clear spots with a good view of the northern horizon.
