By Saundra McBrearty, Outreach and Volunteer Specialist
Daylight stretches well past 9 pm in June and July, but it is worth staying up to witness the blinking magic of fireflies dancing against the darkening landscape. It is even more fun to jump in and catch a few ambassador fireflies to enjoy for a day.
You will find fireflies in yards and vegetable gardens. They also love long grasses, marshy areas and regions near the edges of ponds, lakes, streams and other bodies of water. They can thrive under low-hanging trees, in forests and fields.
Watch Your Light
Fireflies communicate with their flashing lights. To catch one, you should act like one. First, turn off your exterior house lights, which confuse them while they are responding to light signals from other fireflies. Next, cover an LED flashlight with blue paper, which also limits their confusion. Then, imitate fireflies by shining your flashlight directly up and down, or by repeating the light patterns you see fireflies emitting. Avoid shining your light directly at a firefly.
Catch Carefully
Catch your fireflies using a net or by carefully cupping your hands. Gently place the fireflies you catch into a clear jar with a lid that’s been pierced to let in air. Add a moistened paper towel to keep the air in the jar humid. Work in pairs when catching fireflies, with one person holding the jar and another using the net.
Let Them Go
Once you have a jar of fireflies, enjoy them for a day. Release them at night when they are most active and able to avoid predators. If you keep them longer, the fireflies are likely to die.
Catch fireflies carefully, treat them gently and release them into the wild again when you’re done, and you’ll be able to enjoy these fascinating creatures without causing any harm.
