Want to get others engaged in looking for fireflies? Consider hosting a firefly blitz! Similar to a bioblitz, a firefly blitz can be a fun way to bring together your local community to learn more about fireflies, spend some time together in nature, and collect meaningful data.
Hosting a blitz or contributing data to the Firefly Atlas are great ways to help researchers learn more about fireflies, but they’re not the only ways to support firefly conservation efforts! Here are some simple actions you can take today:
- Provide habitat! Set aside a part of your yard or garden where things can get a little wild.
- Include a variety of native plants, from grasses and forbs to shrubs and trees
- Leave the leaves and mow less frequently
- Certify your yard (and share the word) with this Certified Firefly Habitat Program
- Avoid pesticide use, which can kill fireflies and their prey or degrade habitat
- Turn off your outdoor lights at night, especially during the summer firefly season, or make your lighting more firefly-friendly by utilizing dimmers, motion detectors, or timers to limit the extent and duration of nighttime light
- Check out other firefly community science projects
- Spread the word and let others know about fireflies and their needs
- Donate to the Xerces Society, which is working to conserve fireflies and their habitats
