'You would not believe your eyes': Fireflies make a comeback in Wisconsin
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- You must have noticed it by now. Fireflies are back in southeast Wisconsin. It's been reported in previous years that fireflies have been in decline, with many species nearing endangerment. But suddenly, this summer, they're twinkling all over our area.
"When you go into the woods when it's really dark and, you can imagine your yard, but we have a lot more here, right?" said Bev Bryant, a naturalist at the Wehr Nature Center in Franklin. "So, it's just like sparkle, sparkle, sparkle. It's pretty amazing."
You may not believe your eyes this year. It's not quite 10 million fireflies but, at least it seems to be, a lot more than last year.
"Generally, populations, if you actually do surveys of the fireflies, those are showing up as being in decline." Bryant said.
The world turns slowly for fireflies, so Bryant says the reason for the perceived reemergence has a lot to do with the weather. Both this summer's and last summer's
"If you remember last year," she said. "We had a summer a lot like we've had this summer. A lot of rain. A lot of humidity. And that's good conditions for fireflies. They kind of like wet soil and they spend maybe 1-3 years as a larva in your yard."
The adults we see glowing right now don't have a lot of time.
"We're kind of creeping up to the end of when we should be seeing those twilight fireflies, the ones we're most familiar with." said Bryant.
They're doing the evolutionary dance they were taught right now. Their mating season is approximately late June to late July.
The flashes you see outside are part of their mating ritual.
"Fireflies actually communicate by blinking." Bryant said. "In many cases, the male is the one that's flying around but the females come up to the tall grass and they blink back."
The most common species in Wisconsin, known colloquially as the 'Big Dippers' for the dropping motion they do while lit, are most active from dusk to about 10 PM.
"They can do their talk. It's kind of like the big bar scene." said Bryant.
You'll find them at the best places to pick up a mate. Tall grass and, what we might call, the messy parts of our yards.
Bryant says fireflies are in decline though. Instead of saying goodbye and getting misty-eyed, there are some things we can do.
"Two big things we can do to be a friend to fireflies, leave some mess in your yard. Leave a corner that's got taller weeds. Leave some leaves in a pile in the fall." she said.
"And then, if you're out enjoying the patio, when you go in, turn off all your lights. They don't need to be on all night. Then you'll do a favor to the moths and the fireflies."
The Wehr Nature Center is hosting its Fireside Friday: Firefly fun program this Friday night, July 18th. Their experts will lead a hike at dusk to search for and briefly capture some fireflies and then have some s'mores.
You must pre-register for the program. Click here for more info and to register.