THE GOOD SIDE OF THE RAIN?

 

 

         This year’s superabundant precipitation may have created above-average conditions for fireflies.

         We live in town, and in most years, there have been only a few fireflies. This has seemed true of the lowlands in general. The best fireflies I’ve seen in Vermont were on mountain in Shrewsbury—the kind of display where groups begin flashing together, as if creating veins of gold ore in the air.

         What we’ve seen behind our house this year hasn’t approached that, but it’s been quite a spectacle. For several weeks now, dozens have appeared at dusk, at first flying close to the ground then zooming around the neighborhood at house height or above.

         This makes sense, from what I know of firefly behavior and habitat. The ones who fly around are the guys, looking for females. The females glow, too, but are wingless, living in placing with abundant humus. At the place I used to live, I would invite neighbors to dump their maple leaves, which my son would pound to fragments by jumping in the pile, after which they composted quite nicely. With some regularity I would find the glowworms, as the females are known, in the dark, wet, ßdecaying leaves.

         The widespread use of insect sprays, by homeowners and by mosquito control districts, has done bad things for firefly populations. With West Nile virus lurking, and eastern equine encephalitis a continuing possibility, it’s hard to blame people for wanting to clear the air. But this year the fireflies appear to be in the ascendant for a change, and it’s lovely to see. 

 

Comments

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For several weeks, dozens appeared at dusk, flying to the ground first, then zoom around the neighborhood or the height above the house.