Georgia’s diverse geography makes it a prime location for fireflies

Fireflies, often referred to as fireflies, are synonymous for many with fond childhood memories of chasing them around with Mason jars in hand. There are over 2,000 species of this popular beetle in the world, and a few dozen species call Georgia home.

But if you feel like you haven’t seen fireflies in a while, these could be the likely causes.

“Fireflies face many threats that have caused them to disappear in some areas,” said Anna Yellin, a biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division. “The biggest threat is probably habitat loss. People usually think of habitat destruction as development replacing green space. The biggest loss of habitat is hard to see.”

According to experts at the Xerces Society Firefly Atlas, fireflies are associated with a wide range of habitats, depending on the species. The one thing they all have in common is that they prefer moisture.

Fireflies have been found in tidal marshes, desert river canyons, and cypress swamps. Others have been found in wet meadows, forests, and marshes.

“Fireflies depend on small, microhabitats,” Yellin said. “But there are also certain species that depend on certain small niches. If that niche is disrupted, you can wipe out an entire population. There has been a tremendous decline in wetlands over the years.”

Yellin said pesticides are another reason fireflies are less visible.

“Broad spraying … for example, spraying for mosquitoes can be a problem,” she said. “When it comes to invertebrates, if you spray for one species, you often hit all the species that are in the area.”

Yellin said having fireflies around is an advantage.

“I think they’re underappreciated as pollinators,” she said. “Most of the time, attention is paid to their nighttime displays. But the adults feed on pollen and nectar, so flowering plants benefit from them as pollinators.”

Yellin said the firefly research is still in its early stages and was initiated after a species not normally found in the area was spotted.

“We started doing some research in Georgia a couple of years ago after the Loopy Five firefly was spotted,” Yellin said. “It’s showing up where beavers have built dams and wetlands. We’re just starting a lot of our research here in the Piedmont area.”

Becky Griffin, a pollination services associate in UGA’s Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, said there are an estimated 50 species of fireflies in Georgia.

“It’s not easy to tell them apart,” she said. “As a research community, we’ve discovered that some species that we thought were gone may actually be there, or have moved to more distant locations.”

Fireflies found in Georgia

Common Eastern Firefly– Often found in lawns and fields. Has a light border around its wings and a shield on its head.

Synchronous Firefly– This species is one of the few fireflies that can coordinate their flashing patterns during the mating ritual from late May to early June.

Small Grey– Also known as Photinus marginellus.

Griffin said symptoms of climate change, such as extreme heat, are having a negative effect on fireflies.

“When we go through periods of drought, the areas where fireflies are populating aren’t moist enough for the female to lay her egg and for the larvae to live,” she said. “And if we have a situation where we have a drought and all of a sudden we get 2 inches of rain an hour, that can’t be good for the population.”

Facts about fireflies

The life cycle can last from a few months to three years or longer.
The majority of the life cycle is in the larval stage.
Firefly larvae feed on soft-bodied invertebrates such as snails, slugs and worms.
Fireflies usually hunt in moist soil or swampy areas. They use their mandibles to inject their prey with paralyzing neurotoxins.

Griffin said light pollution is causing few fireflies to be seen.

“Fireflies need darkness,” Griffin said. “Those flashes are how they find a mate. And if they can’t find a mate because of the light on your porch or the floodlight that’s lighting up your whole backyard, then mating is less likely to be successful, which means fewer young fireflies.”

For anyone who needs outdoor lighting as a safety measure, Griffin has a tip.

“If you come home late at night and you want the porch light on, point it down so it lights the steps you’re walking on,” she said.

Tips to Attract Fireflies

Consider leaving part of your garden wild
Plant native flowers and plants
Piles of leaves, twigs and logs are great habitats for fireflies
Avoid using pesticides
Consider adding a water feature to your yard

“By leaving some twigs, leaves, and other things lying around as they fall, these are all places where the female fireflies will lay their eggs,” Griffin said. “These are some things that every homeowner can do to help the firefly population.”

Griffin said research and conservation activities are underway to inform the community.

For information on how you can support conservation, visit www.fireflyatlas.org and www.fireflieson.com.

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with various funders and journalism funding partners.

Erica Van Buren is the climate change reporter for The Augusta Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY Network. Contact her at [email protected] or at X: @EricaVanBuren32.