Whether you call them fireflies or lightning bugs, you probably have memories of running around with childlike glee and catching them in a jar as a kid. Find out how they can benefit the garden and how to protect this endangered species.
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Lightning bugs seem so docile. They probably go down in history as one of the most adored–and least scary–insects. Have you ever wondered if they have a role in the circle of life beyond the miraculous feat of making light in their butts?
The Benefits of Firefly Larvae
Firefly larvae are predatory hunters and are beneficial to the garden. They live on the ground and under bark. Among their favorite foods are snails and slugs. In fact, firefly larvae have even been seen following their victim’s slime trail, hoping for a tasty treat.
Firefly Larva–Don’t kill these!
Photo Credit: Mark Yokoyama Flickr
How to Provide Firefly Habitat
Adult fireflies are said to feed on plant nectar, so if you’re providing pollination stations (blocks of chemical-free flower plantings), you will entice them to stick around and have their babies.
Rather than buying more Sluggo to get rid of pesky slugs, why not provide food and habitat for lightning bugs?
In fact, some are saying that fireflies are actually endangered, and it is partly due to loss of habitat. The larvae prefer undisturbed soil, so they will love your perennial, no-till, and permaculture gardens over large expanses of cultivated land.
Another way to provide habitat is through permanent garden beds with permanent walkways. The walkways, whether mulched with wood chips or seeded with clover, will provide the necessary habitat for many beneficial insects.
A firefly in the garden
Next time you see fireflies lighting up the air around your yard (those are the males, by the way) give thanks for the work they’re doing to balance out the pest insects in your garden.
And don’t let the kids kill too many of them by leaving them in the jar!
Do you still see a lot of lightning bugs where you live?
Andrea says
I really had no idea that fireflies were beneficial to the garden! Thank you so much for posting this. 🙂
Jessica Lane | The 104 Homestead says
I love fireflies and I can’t remember the last time I saw any. I hadn’t given it any thought until I saw this post. I will have to continue nurturing my baby pollinator garden and sneak out at night in the hopes of seeing them again. That is something I would love to share with my children. I’m not sure they’ve ever seen them.
Amy says
It’s crazy, isn’t it, how quickly they have decreased in numbers? I can’t wait to follow the progress of your pollinator garden 🙂
Mindy says
My home has billions of them in the country hills of Ohio
Kirsten says
So much I didn’t know! I had no idea they were endangered. I’m happy to report that in our field we see clouds of flashing lights all summer.
Amy says
How wonderful 🙂
Bernice says
Me too I’m looking at one right now it’s on one of my leaves of my plants he’s been there or she’s been there for over an hour it’s still there I didn’t know that they did that though I’m glad that you let me know that I’m going to see how long he stays there on this leaf
Sheila says
I was wondering if you knew why or even noticed that they seem to be flying upwards when they are lighting up?! I thought it was interesting but never knew why?
Also I’ve seen only a few times where there seem to be thousands in our trees along the edge of the field just putting on a light show. They weren’t going anywhere and we watched them for hours. Maybe it had to do with breeding if it’s only the males who light up.
Amy says
That sounds so cool, but I have no idea why. This website has some really cool facts about fireflies, maybe you’ll find some answers there 🙂
Jessica says
I was just telling my littles about fireflies and how I hadn’t seen any in a very long time. I used to see them all the time when I lived in IL and TN. The upper peninsula of MI seems to lack them…
Wynne says
So excited about our bumper crop of fireflies this year! First it was because of their beauty, but it’s really satisfying to read they’re beneficial in the garden. I’ve been trying to follow more permaculture rules, but I didn’t think in the suburbs I’d have luck encouraging good predators to arrive. I almost never see snakes or toads. But, ha! take that, slugs, I have fireflies!
Amy says
That’s awesome! I’m so glad to hear it! Keep doing whatever you’re doing 🙂
joy says
I’ve seen only 2 this week. The 1st ones in 31 years. I’m glad to know Fireflies thrive on snails. I’ve been eliminating them. Now I can just throw them into the yard where the Fireflies can find them.
Bethany says
I have a question. Last year my yard had hundreds of fireflies! But in late summer fleas got so bad that I had to do something. So to keep things natural, I released microscopic beneficial nematodes and they worked like a charm; totally eradicated the fleas. Will they have harmed the firefly population though?
Amy says
I’m going to guess that the nematodes did not harm the firefly larvae, since they are both predators. They might have had to duke it out over a food source, but I don’t believe the nematodes would naturally find them appetizing. But I really have no idea. You’ll have to let us know!
Beth says
I’m trying to research whether beneficial nematodes kill firefly larva and not finding much online. But I did find this book on fireflies that says they do kill firefly larva. I have a slug problem but also looking for a solution for squash vine borer. It’s unclear whether the nematodes will help with the squash vine borer, but they won’t help with the slugs. I miss seeing fireflies and haven’t seen them in the city at all, but I did find a firefly larva in my compost this year. I was about to put nematodes on my garden and I just decided not to – I really prefer to give the fireflies a chance.
Amy says
Many beneficial insects are non-selective, meaning that they will prey on other beneficial insects as well as pests. Spiders and mantids are two examples. They don’t distinguish between good and bad, only dinner 🙂 Because beneficial nematodes prey on larvae, my guess is that they’re non-selective about the type of larvae they consume.
Always aim for balance in the garden, and as I write in my article Preventing Pests in the Garden, your first step is to figure out if there’s anything else in your garden ecology that could be tweaked to be unappealing to the borer before adding new elements like nematodes.
Petey says
What is the title of the book you are referring to Beth?
Joe Nowakowski says
I love fireflies and hate creeping Charlie. I saw a description of a boric acid solution that can be used to control the weed, but I don’t want to use it if it will harm the insect. Do you know if it is safe for the larva? Also, are beneficial nematodes safe to use as far as fireflies are concerned? Thanks!
Amy says
Any disruption to the soil with a solution or even a hand-pulling session will have an effect on the larva if they are present in the area. I prefer hand-pulling over chemical solutions, but either way, make the disruption a one-time thing. Use enough solution to get the job done in one round, or block off enough time to pull it all out in one go. Then you can get back to restoring the area to habitat as quickly as possible without repeat disruptions. I typically allow creeping charlie to occupy space in my lawn, b/c I prefer to add habitat there.
Judy Lee says
Yes, there are zillions of fireflies in my yard They show up around this time every year. They might come from the vacant lot next door. I’m not sure. But my son has tons of them in his yard too. This evening they are out in full force. I love them and saw they are landing on the asparagus and the bean plants in the garden, so I wanted to see if they are safe. Thank you for your article. I will make sure there’s always a place here for the firefly to stay safe. I need to add that the stray cat that begs food here was running to me and a firefly landed on her head. She didn’t know what to think of that, but she didn’t swat it. Very cute. That made me laugh out loud.
Ashley Bailey says
Did you ever find out if asparagus and bean plants are good for fireflies. I’m trying to build up my yard to suite them. Thank you
Brian says
I live in Rhode Island and used to love the fire flies in our backyard. But I haven’t seen any in decades even though I have an undisturbed garden area.
Is there a way to import them and get them going again?
Amy says
Although you can purchase the larvae for many types of beneficial insects, unfortunately this isn’t a possibility for fireflies. The best we can do is reduce spraying pesticides for things like mosquitoes—firefly larvae is really susceptible to these sprays, turn off non-essential outdoor lights or put them on a motion sensor, and nurture the habitat they need to thrive.
Judy Lee says
Something about the fireflies around my house is that when I’m outside in the evening they seem to be interested in what I’m doing. Like they come and hang around, kind of like one landed on the cat. The ones on the asparagus let me get very close and they did not scoot away. I think they are friendly creatures that enjoy interacting. Thank you for sharing a picture of their larvae, too, otherwise I would have tended to think that was a predator.
Sandy says
I live in an apartment complex surrounded on two sides by farmland and woods, with a subdivision behind. Over the years I began to see fireflies disappearing and butterflies. Our maintenance Crews decided to switch to a more natural form of weed control and the last couple years I am seeing fireflies returning and butterflies
Malcolm says
No I don’t see them any more. And you are correct about trying to catch them in jars. Is there a place you can go to buy the eggs, larva, etc.
Amy says
Although you can purchase the larvae for many types of beneficial insects, unfortunately this isn’t a possibility for fireflies. The best we can do is reduce spraying pesticides for things like mosquitoes—firefly larvae is really susceptible to these sprays, turn off non-essential outdoor lights or put them on a motion sensor, and nurture the habitat they need to thrive.
A says
They were hunting my monarch larva! I didn’t realize those were fireflies. They are covefing my mint blissoms currently. Well that’s a pickle…
Dave Brown says
I grew up in Kansas. We now live outside of Savannah, GA. I have seen absolutely no fire flies here. Why not? I would enjoy having fire flies.
Amy says
A surprising fact is that there are 173 known species of fireflies in North America. Not all of them flash, and some only light up in their larval stage. So you may technically have fireflies and not know it. Inquire with local conservation groups or nature centers about the species in your area and whether they are threatened with extinction or imperiled.
Pat says
I own perfect property to re-populate Firefly larvae/adults. Were can I purchase Firefly larvae/adults to do this?
Amy says
Although you can purchase the larvae for many types of beneficial insects, unfortunately this isn’t a possibility for fireflies. The best we can do is reduce spraying pesticides for things like mosquitoes—firefly larvae is really susceptible to these sprays, turn off non-essential outdoor lights or put them on a motion sensor, and nurture the habitat they need to thrive.