Sadly New York Fireflies Are Disappearing, Why Are They Leaving?

What makes summertime so wonderful? I'm sure that if you were to make a list it would be filled with vacation plans, outdoor concerts, time spent at the lake, hiking, ice cream and cookouts. All great reasons to love summertime in New York but that's not what makes the season magical.

The magic of summertime in New York State is also a lengthy list of an early sunrise and spectacular sunsets, the orchestral sounds of crickets and Katydids at night or the smell of campfires and cut grass. One thing missing are the fireflies. Where did they go?

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When I was a kid it felt like thousands of fireflies would light up my backyard at night but in 2023 it's more like lights out. Where have they gone? Is the firefly becoming extinct?

According to the New York Almanac, the firefly is becoming increasingly rare and it's partially our fault. Due in part to the use of chemicals and pesticides on our lawns and around our yards, these sparkly insects are leaving. This isn't the only reason we are losing our fiery friends.

The Washington Post details how "light pollution" is another factor in the decline of fireflies. An increasing number of street lights, backyard flood lights and those lights used to spotlight your house at night are examples of light pollution and fireflies don't like it.

Loss of habitat is another reason for the dimming of fireflies. Look at the available land around you. When that land is developed for housing, shopping center or gas station, fireflies and many other insects are losing their habitat.