The City of Greenbelt is proud to be the home of Maryland's first Firefly Sanctuary! Firefly numbers are declining globally due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and light pollution. Six different species call Maryland home. To help these awe inspiring insects survive, an area in the Stream Valley Park has been designated as a Firefly Sanctuary. It will provide suitable habitat and resources, restrict pesticide use, and provide relief from artificial lighting.

 

About Fireflies

Fireflies are a type of beetle in the order Coleoptera. Constituting of over 400,000 species, Coleoptera is the largest of all orders, making up 40% of all known insects and 25% of all known animal life forms. There are six species that call Maryland home, the most common being the Eastern firefly, the black firefly, and the winter firefly. The larva and adult fireflies have light producing organs that are used to attract mates and ward off predators. In this region, adult fireflies only emerge in late June to early July.

Firefly Life Cycle

Like all beetles, fireflies have a complete life cycle consisting of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Adult females will lay their eggs in mid-summer in the ground, preferably in moist places near ponds and streams and in leaf litter. The eggs hatch after about 3 weeks and emerge as larvae. This is the longest period of a firefly’s life and it is spent eating snails, slugs, and small insects such as mosquitoes. After a year or two as a larva, the firefly will pupate underground for about 3 weeks before emerging as an adult in June or July. The entire adult portion of a firefly’s life is spent trying to attract potential mates for 3-4 weeks, using their unique form of courtship; flashing poetry through bio-luminescence.

How to Help Fireflies

Human disruption is the main culprit for the decline in firefly numbers. From pesticide and herbicide use, habitat loss, and the abundance of artificial lighting, fireflies are struggling to survive. The Firefly Sanctuary will not use pesticides or herbicides, the streams and trees will not be disturbed, and the edges of the forest are left with slightly taller grasses. All in an effort to support these iconic insects.

What can you do?

· Turn off outside lights at night: Fireflies use their flashing lights to communicate with one another to attract mates and to warn of danger. Human light pollution can disrupt their flashes, making it harder to find mates and breed.

· Leave logs and leaf litter: Some species of firefly larvae mature in rotting logs and in the leaf litter that accumulates on the forest floor. Encourage this accumulation on your own property by planting native trees and allowing this accumulation to occur

· Create  water features in your yard: Fireflies thrive around standing water and marshy areas where the soil is soft and moist. By adding a water feature to your landscape you can help create a more ideal habitat.

· Avoid using pesticides or herbicides on your property: Pesticides and herbicides can harm firefly populations by inadvertently killing the adults and larvae.

· Do not over-mow your lawn: While it may be aesthetically pleasing to keep your lawn short, fireflies  like to rest in long grasses during the day. Consider incorporating areas of long grass in your landscaping.

· Talk to your Neighbor:  What you do in your yard will help but you can create even more firefly habitat by enlisting your neighbors.

 

Helpful Links

Xerces Society

Firefly.org

National Geographic

Tree Hugger

Chesapeake Bay Program