How can we save the fireflies?

General catastrophism is never good for sustainability: and this also applies to warnings about the disappearance of certain insects or entire animal and plant species. It's said that this could be the last generation of women and men still able to see fireflies and the extraordinary natural phenomenon contained within their lives.

When talking about fireflies (in English firefly) refers to beetles of the Lampyridae family, which have the ability to glow in the dark. On summer evenings, females, standing on blades of grass, emit a flashing light from their abdomens to attract males, who respond with a fainter signal. Once mating has occurred, the male dies and the female survives for a few more days for egg-laying, but without emitting any more light.

The survival of fireflies is threatened by human-induced factors: excessive pesticide use, light pollution, and the destruction of their natural habitat.
But we still have time to do something, as the experts consulted by the magazine point out. National Geographic and these are essential, yet simple, gestures.

For example:

• Most fireflies live underground or in moist soil, where they can feed on earthworms, their preferred food source. These conditions can also be created in your own garden by simply leaving woody debris and leaf litter at the edge of the soil. This creates a microhabitat ideal for small fireflies.
• Another decisive help can come through the planting of native shrubs and trees and letting thegrass growing tall helps the soil retain the moisture these animals love.
• As for artificial lighting and its damage, motion sensors, timers and intensity regulators can be installed on the external lights of our homes.
• And again: close the curtains at night to prevent the interior lighting from spreading outside and turn off the lights completely, when possible.
• Avoid pesticides, and try to use natural remedies, at least as long as possible.
• When visiting the habitats where these insects live, you simply have to be careful where you step, to avoid trampling on mating adult specimens or small larvae.

Read also:

• Light pollution: how artificial light makes you fat
• How to See Shooting Stars: Five Tips
• Insect decline: 40 percent of species decline

Cover photo by Francisco Corado Rivera from Pixabay