Mood lighting, mating, and murder: The scintillating lives of fireflies - Emily A. Geest

The best way to learn about fireflies is to go outside at night and observe them! You can become a community scientist by recording the fireflies you see in your backyard and learning how to take detailed observation notes here. Share your photos and records on platforms like FireflyAtlas or iNaturalist, where scientists use these contributions to study species ranges, distributions, life cycles, and population trends.

Whether you're a casual observer or a professional, every observation counts. If you catch fireflies by hand or with a net to examine them up close, be sure to release them back where you found them. For those eager to witness the famous synchronous fireflies of the eastern United States, remember to follow all rules to be a respectful tourist and help protect fireflies—learn more here.

You can also help fireflies by creating habitat for them in your own backyard! Which includes leaving leaves in your yard and reducing light pollution. This site offers great recommendations and tips for making yards welcoming for fireflies. Finally, female fireflies aren’t the only ones who trick males, check out how plants mimic female insects to trick males into visiting and pollinating flowers at this TED-Ed lesson!