It was only a few, but, I did see some while camping this weekend.

I have participated in No Mow May for three years now. I also have a spot in the yard I let be free (weeded it for invasives) for the same amount of time.

This summer, for the first time since I have lived here, exsists an abundance of fireflys in my yard. They are everywhere, in a way I've never seen since I was a child.

No Mow May, (even if just a part of your yard) gives insects a place. Bugs live in the leaves and natural debris, by keeping it undisturbed, from fall to winter is important for many bugs' survival.

If you like bugs, consider dedicating space in your yard for them to live. Don't keep grass in the typical american perfect lawn way. I suggest not to spray, and look at native grasses and plants first when seeking your landscaping needs.

I've noticed a real difference this year in my yard. Maybe its some coincidence, I don't know. Either way I'm happy to see lightning bugs again

One night in ft Gordon we were doing an FTX and we got out there late and set up the tents in the dark, n in a field of tall grass. No sooner than the tents were set up, an intense rainstorm came through and dumped a metric fuckton of rain in 15-20 minutes. And as quickly as it started, it was over. Afterwards there were so many fireflies it looked like a fantasy movie. I had never seen anything like that. I've been all over the world, hell I grew up in Boulder, on of the most beautiful places on earth, but I've never seen anything even close to that. It was absolutely magical. And my kid gets so excited to see 2 or 3 and it makes me want to cry.

Stop raking your leaves

You would not believe your eyes if ten fireflies lit up the world as I fell asleep

Used to catch them growing up. There would be thousands of them periodically blinking in the yard and across the field every night. It was pretty and serene.

I saw one just the other night when I let my dogs out before going to bed. It was so surprising that I had to wait a minute and verify I wasn't just seeing things. It was a real life lightning bug. It was a happy sad moment.

I've been so happy to see them in our yard this year. Enough so that I've stopped clearing brush just in case that's why they're here in such numbers. I haven't seen them like this in a decade or more.

Upon further investigation, it appears that only SOME species of fireflies are at risk of extinction. Others are so common they are of "least concern".

If foreign propaganda bots are bombarding us with doomer memes to instill apathy and depression in the younger generation, this fits.

They were everywhere when I was a kid. I haven’t seen one in years.

They were so delightful, and I miss them.

Pasolini wrote a famous essay in 1975, "The Disappearance of the Fireflies," which, at that time, was already starting to become very noticeable. Of course, the essay was really about capitalism.
Personally, outside my childhood in the countryside, I noticed fireflies in the outskirts of a largish city some 20 years ago, then nothing for a very long time, and then I saw a few when I lived for a brief period of time in a really remote place, like an hour from the nearest highway. No trains anywhere near, too.

Off-topic, but if you don't know Pasolini, I urge you to read his last interview which seems particularly gloomy as it appears to foreshadow his own death just a few hours after.
One memorable quote:

I listen to the politicians – all the politicians – with all their little presumptions and I turn into a mad man as they prove they do not know which country they are talking about, they are as far away as the moon. And together with them there are the men of letters, the sociologists and the experts in any kind of field.

Fight this by not bagging your leaves. Leave some for our buddies! https://blog.nwf.org/2024/09/leave-the-leaves-to-save-fireflies/

Lanternfiles, on the other hand... Oh, wait, oh fuck.

I had wondered why we always seemed to have some fireflies here and it turned out my hatred of raking and leaving the leaves under the bushes helped a lot!

Fireflies are fascinating and beautiful creatures. Another user mentioned donating to xerces society which is a great idea. Another thing that you can do if you are fortunate enough to own land is to replace your lawn (non-native, mowed grass) with native plants and leave the fallen leaves undisturbed.

I replaced my entire lawn with species native to my region and my entire yard is currently covered in multiple species of fireflies. It's so magical to see all the different colors and flashing patterns. Mind you, I live in the city so it's only my yard that is really providing for them. All my neighbors' yards have either no fireflies or a few.

You don't have to replace your entire lawn like I did. Just setting aside some space for our wildlife neighbors is better than nothing. Remember plants are the foundation of almost every food web. For me, it's magical to go outside and see the new blooms and growth, look for new creatures that show up, and just walk the little paths in my small yard. In an age of ecologic collapse and climate change it gives me some sense that I can have a measurable, positive impact and that really helps me mentally.

Source? :(

Please I need to know!