Getting in the Habit of Thinking About Firefly Habitats

There are many things in this world that we’d be sad to be without. Fireflies are one.

If you haven’t thought about fireflies for years, perhaps it’s because habitats that suit them are on the decline. Maybe the little dancing lights have just not been around. Maybe suitable places for them to flicker and shine are just not prevalent anymore.

If you were a city kid, you might not have seen fireflies on a regular basis or ever. But you knew about them. You took a trip to the countryside and saw them one special night, or you were familiar with the lore of trying to capture them—not a great practice, actually, if good air holes were not poked into the capturing jar, but a fairly okay rite of passage if their capture and release happened quickly. If you were a country kid, you likely saw fireflies regularly if you were allowed to stay up late enough for the skies to darken completely. Fireflies were around.

Do today’s city kids know about fireflies, and do present-day country kids see them on summer nights? Hard to say. But assuming “maybe not”, we can do something about this. Why does good work such as this often fall to a gardener? Well, gardeners build habitats, and preserving or creating suitable habitats for fireflies can ensure that these little guys don’t fade from the world completely. (Hey, we can make time for that, right?)

Suitable Habitats

Fireflies need somewhat damp and dark protection. Give them a small water feature, or some soil that retains moisture thanks to untouched tree leaves or ground cover plants, and they’ll be happy. Fireflies need a chance to escape light pollution—not easy when even countryside decks and patios are rarely without illumination. Fireflies need places to rest, under good foliage cover (think: the foliage of Coneflower plants or tall ornamental grasses). Gardeners can help with all this.

Quiet garden beds with plants that keep the soil cool and moist are those loved by fireflies. Those beds can surely contain plants that like basking in the sun all day, but plants that don’t want to dry out completely, and those with good foliage under which to take refuge. No surprise, native plants, and in particular, pollinator plants, are good choices. Grasses with lots of protective blades and, as mentioned, Coneflower plants with big petals and slightly droopy leaves… these are firefly-approved plants.

Fireflies start out as carnivorous larvae. These larvae hunt for small snails, slugs, and more—food sources that are likely on the ground in Coneflower patches, near tall native ornamental grasses and regular lawn grass that has been spared any mowing, and similar spots.

I never knew it, but some fireflies feast on nectar and pollen while other species of firefly do not. Those that do not are quite simply not eaters, surviving on energy stores that they build while still in the larval stage. But for those that do, the rich pollen stores of such plants as Coneflower are important to survival. In addition to Coneflower plants, Black-eyed Susans and Asclepias plants (Milkweed/Butterfly Weed) readily supply pollen while they also offer good protection from birds other species and from the beating sun. Asters provide pollen later in summer, and these are great flowers for some fireflies. They also serve as protection, by way of their foliage, throughout the season. Monarda, known as Bee Balm, is also an ideal plant for supporting fireflies.

Pollinator-Friendly = Firefly-Friendly

While your goal in purchasing these plants may be to create a pollinator garden, and that of course may make you think of bees and butterflies, an added benefit may be that you are building a nice firefly habitat, as well. In general, pollinator plants can be considered firefly-friendly plants. And the bonus: Coneflower and Monarda, Butterfly Weed and Native Grasses, Black-eyed Susans and Asters… these are all extremely attractive to the human eye.

What to Keep in Mind

One key thing to note is that fireflies don’t look especially gorgeous when you see them in the daytime. They look like black sunflower seeds, or elongated dark beetles, with a hint of orange on them… the kinds of insects that some may try to eradicate, assuming they’ll do damage to garden plants. Not so. 

Another thing to note is that planting any number of pollinator plants will do little good for bees, butterflies, or fireflies if you treat your gardens with chemicals. Pollinator and firefly-friendly plants (examples, the strong and self-sufficient Coneflower and Bee Balm) do not require chemical treatments, and because fireflies are extremely sensitive to chemical pollution, engaging in “clean” gardening should be a first and very easy step we take in building firefly habitats. Truth being told, protecting fireflies may help us protect our own health. (If you feel like spraying, spray with water.)

Get in the Habit

So as not to lose something from this world that we'd miss, get in the habit of thinking about firefly habitats: Hold back on the bad stuff, add the good stuff, meaning pollinator plants, and turn off the outdoor lights at times you don’t truly need them. Maintain a small patch of grass that you don’t mow. Leave a little pine needle or leaf waste around to keep at least one patch of soil moist and cool. Do all this to create a haven where you’ve made it clear you’re ready to announce to precious fireflies, “Come dance. Let your light shine.”