Are Fireflies Disappearing? Unraveling Their Decline in Summer Skies

Quick Summary

• Raphaël De Cock, a firefly researcher, recalls childhood experiences of catching fireflies, noting that they are now absent from his hometown due to urbanization.
• Globally, firefly populations are declining due to threats like habitat loss, light pollution, pesticide use, and climate change.
• There are over 2,600 species of fireflies worldwide; however, the conservation status of only 150 species has been assessed by scientists. Of these studied species, 20% are threatened with extinction.
• Key challenges include insufficient knowledge about most firefly species’ habitats and behaviors and lack of historical population data for comparison.
• Conservation organizations such as the IUCN Firefly Specialist Group and initiatives like the Firefly Atlas aim to study populations and encourage preservation efforts globally.

Images:
!NGFF06-21-205db01ProPhoto2048px.jpg”>Fireflies under star-trails above trees in New York

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