Fireflies are Pollinators!
From our friends at The Great Southeast Pollinator Census:
Fireflies are beetle pollinators that provide additional ecoservices!
This time of year, fireflies begin their enchanting evening display. The Southeast is home to more than fifty species of fireflies, some of which serve as flower pollinators. Each spring, we look forward to welcoming them back to our yards.
Adult fireflies live only a few weeks, and the flashing displays we enjoy are part of their mating ritual. After mating, females lay eggs near decaying logs and downed tree limbs. The resulting larvae live for one to two years, feeding on slugs and snails, and play an important role in the ecosystem. I’m often asked how gardeners can attract more fireflies to their landscapes.
Help Fireflies Thrive – Here’s How:
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Protect Dark Skies: Turn off outdoor lights at night, or use dark sky-friendly lighting. Artificial light disrupts the mating signals of fireflies. The International Dark-Sky Association offers helpful lighting guidelines.
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Keep It Wild: Leave some natural areas with fallen branches and logs. These provide essential habitat for female fireflies to lay their eggs.
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Preserve Moist Areas: Firefly larvae thrive in damp environments. Avoid draining or filling in wet areas on your property.
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Plant a Pollinator Garden: Include a variety of nectar- and pollen-rich plants to support fireflies and other beneficial insects.
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Manage Leaf Litter Naturally: Don’t burn or bag up leaves. Instead, leave them in place or spread them under trees to enrich the soil and provide habitat.
Clare Johnston, of the Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center, created several landscape plans for a Firefly Garden.
The Fannin County Chamber of Commerce, Blue Ridge, Georgia, leads an effort with University of Georgia Extension and the Fannin County Board of Education to “love local” by educating visitors and residents of the area on the importance of fireflies and encouraging best management practices to conserve these insects. These efforts have attracted national attention and this model can be easily replicated by other counties and communities!
Plan on celebrating International Firefly Day, July 2nd by simply going outside at dusk and enjoying the firefly show. For information on how you can incorporate firefly conservation resources in your community visit FirefliesON.com. Remember firefly beetles will go into the “other insect” category during the Pollinator Census!
Hopefully, by now you all have the project website, https://GSePC.org, bookmarked and are following our social media, Southeast Pollinator Census Facebook group and @SoutheastPollinators on Instagram. Enjoy your garden, fireflies, and all the pollinators!
Becky Griffin
National/Georgia Project Coordinator
beckygri@uga.edu
About the Census: The Great Southeast Pollinator Census was created to bridge the gap in knowledge about insect ecosystems, particularly pollinators, among gardeners and educators. While many were familiar with plant and soil health, there was often limited understanding of the vital role pollinators play.
A pilot program launched in 2017 and 2018 helped refine counting methods and identify participant needs, ensuring the project would be accessible to the public while producing meaningful scientific data. Guidance from researchers and statisticians shaped the program’s structure.
The Census has three core goals: to promote pollinator-friendly gardening practices, increase public understanding of insect life, and collect valuable data on pollinator populations. In 2019, over 4,000 participants joined the first statewide count, marking the beginning of a powerful citizen science initiative. Learn more and participate: GSePC.org
