Are the lightning bugs dying?

Question

It seems to me that there aren't as many around as there used to be. You'd look in a field on a nice summer night and see thousands of them. Now you're lucky to see a few.

Answer 1

no, they just drank inviscibility juice

Answer 2

maybe where you are. Maybe all yours have mirgrated to were i live. You look in my backyard, i live in the country, and all you see are lighting bugs!

Answer 3

As far as I am aware there is no research to support the belief that lightning bugs are dying. Lightning bug larvae live on the ground under bark or in moist, swampy areas. If your area has experienced an unusually dry or moist period it could have resulted in a temporary migration to areas that would better support larvae. This would actually have occurred last summer, or even several summers ago depending on the species of lightning bug in your area, because female lightning bugs lay eggs, and the larvae hibernate through the winter, or for some species for several years, before emerging in early summer.

Overall, I would recommend not worrying, there are several areas with abnormally large populations this year and it is likely that your area is experiencing a smaller population due to climate factors that will be remedied in a few seasons.

Answer 4

I've got a yard full. Maybe there's something affecting them where you are.