For many people across the U.S., fireflies (or lightning bugs, depending on where you live) are one of the most cherished insects, with their beautiful flickering light displays on summer evenings.

Rainy, damp weather along the eastern United States in summer 2025 has one upside: Fireflies love it. "Fireflies and their prey (snails, slugs, worms) need moisture, so years with high rainfall, ...

If you’ve noticed that your backyard doesn’t seem to glow with the twinkle of fireflies as much as it used to, you’re right: It likely doesn’t. Fireflies are disappearing from fields, marshes and ...

Whether you call them fireflies or lightning bugs, the dazzling spectacles not only symbolize the arrival of summer but bring us back to a place of childlike wonder. But if you've noticed fewer ...

Now is the time of year many might begin to see annual fireflies lighting up yards -- a sign that summer has finally arrived. But could that beloved sight be in jeopardy? Fireflies, also known as ...

This coverage is made possible through a partnership between Grist and BPR, a public radio station serving western North Carolina. It’s firefly season in the Blue Ridge. As the sun goes down, they ...