Firefly Visitor

Barney Bear · 07-09-2017, 09:19 PM

While watching the beautiful near-full moon rise from our place on East Bear Island this evening, a firefly [we called it a lightning bug back home in Indiana] flew past us, flashing a bright yellow greeting. ⚡️

Hillcountry · 07-09-2017, 10:15 PM

One of the true harbingers of mid-summer!

thinkxingu · 07-10-2017, 05:39 AM

We discovered just last evening that the gully behind us comes alive with fireflies--more than we've seen in years!

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boat_guy64 · 07-10-2017, 10:17 AM

I've seen more of them this year than the past ten years combined. As a kid growing up in PA, we had tons of them and used to catch them and put them in a jar for the night.
I wonder if they have a natural cycle where they are more plentiful certain years.

pjard · 07-11-2017, 05:57 AM

Same thing up here in Gunstock Acres. More in one night than we've seen in entire past years. Anyone know why?

Newbiesaukee · 07-11-2017, 11:00 AM

After my exhaustive ( 5 minute ) investigation on Google, firefly populations worldwide are decreasing. The "usual suspects" toxic chemicals, loss of habitat are a factor as is a more unusual one. Their lighting is part of the mating ritual which can be interfered with by light pollution.

Not really an explanation of the observation of a possible good supply this year, but interesting.

bobkatfly · 07-11-2017, 01:00 PM

Years ago when we were in Melvin Village there was a path through the woods coming back from the beach. The kids called it the buggy path and would run through as fast as they could because of mosquitoes. What I never realized until my daughter took me down it one night was that in addition to the mosquitoes it was flooded with fireflies. It was truly surreal to walk through instead of running although there was much itching the next day.

07-09-2017, 09:19 PM	#1
Barney Bear Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 962 Thanks: 495 Thanked 273 Times in 174 Posts	Firefly Visitor While watching the beautiful near-full moon rise from our place on East Bear Island this evening, a firefly [we called it a lightning bug back home in Indiana] flew past us, flashing a bright yellow greeting. ⚡️

07-10-2017, 10:17 AM	#4
boat_guy64 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Windham and Meredith Posts: 225 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 33 Thanked 89 Times in 42 Posts	Lightning bugs I've seen more of them this year than the past ten years combined. As a kid growing up in PA, we had tons of them and used to catch them and put them in a jar for the night. I wonder if they have a natural cycle where they are more plentiful certain years.

07-11-2017, 11:00 AM	#6
Newbiesaukee Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Coral Gables, winter; Long Island, summer Posts: 1,353 Thanks: 947 Thanked 573 Times in 298 Posts	After my exhaustive ( 5 minute ) investigation on Google, firefly populations worldwide are decreasing. The "usual suspects" toxic chemicals, loss of habitat are a factor as is a more unusual one. Their lighting is part of the mating ritual which can be interfered with by light pollution. Not really an explanation of the observation of a possible good supply this year, but interesting. __________________ "You're only young once, but you can be immature forever."

07-11-2017, 01:00 PM	#7
bobkatfly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Center Tuftonboro Posts: 366 Thanks: 56 Thanked 53 Times in 47 Posts	Years ago when we were in Melvin Village there was a path through the woods coming back from the beach. The kids called it the buggy path and would run through as fast as they could because of mosquitoes. What I never realized until my daughter took me down it one night was that in addition to the mosquitoes it was flooded with fireflies. It was truly surreal to walk through instead of running although there was much itching the next day. __________________ Bob F Amherst till the big 66 comes (made it!) Winter Harbor/Mirror Lake till the big guy comes

07-09-2017, 10:15 PM	#2
Hillcountry Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: In the hills Posts: 2,420 Thanks: 1,677 Thanked 786 Times in 466 Posts	One of the true harbingers of mid-summer!

07-10-2017, 05:39 AM	#3
thinkxingu Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 6,244 Thanks: 1,172 Thanked 2,060 Times in 1,278 Posts	We discovered just last evening that the gully behind us comes alive with fireflies--more than we've seen in years! Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

07-11-2017, 05:57 AM	#5
pjard Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 636 Thanks: 493 Thanked 194 Times in 101 Posts	Same thing up here in Gunstock Acres. More in one night than we've seen in entire past years. Anyone know why?