HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Fireflies need forests, fields, marshes and other wooded areas with organic litter and rotting wood that so they can survive while they are still in their larval stage. It’s also important to remember that firefly larvae don’t move much from the area where they are hatched. They also need a humid atmosphere and standing water in one form or another, such as ponds and streams. Modern human community development, however, literally builds over these natural habitats for fireflies. It’s no surprise, then, that firefly-rich areas tend to lose their firefly populations once they become urbanized. It’s the same concern for firefly populations near water as the development of waterways, the boat traffic, and noise all contribute to making former habitats unlivable for firefly larvae.