According to the article, pesticides and light pollution are the culprits for their declining numbers...sad: Firefly populations have been on the decline in Ohio for years, according to national experts, mainly because of habitat loss and pesticide use. One thing that is bothersome to some species is — ironically — light.Light pollution can drown out their flashes, and research suggests that streetlights can confuse some species. Because the male signals for a mate, and females signal that they are willing, too much light can put a dent in populations. The flashes, called bioluminescence, stem from a chemical reaction inside the insect. The colors, depending on the species, include blue, green, orange and yellow. These messages, coded in flashes of light, indicate species type and attributes such as age and health, all of which might make them more appealing.But in newer developments — such as new subdivisions with manicured lawns — lightning bug populations will go down but can recover, depending on the group of humans sharing space with them, experts say.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 20:39:39 +0000
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