In many places around the world fireflies decline, although it’s early summer, fireflies are losing their presence in the sky and according to scientists, habitat destruction is the top threat as compared to artificial lighting or any kind of pesticides.
Importance of lighting
Many species of fireflies utilize light patterns to find their mates, but the man-made light sometimes disrupts the mating patterns completely that is the reason for fireflies decline. It has also been discovered that the brighter LEDs of the present day have worsened the situation even more. Some of the female fireflies do not fly, thus they cannot get away when their habitat gets destroyed. Light pollution is said to have decreased the reproductive prospects of fireflies.
Other Threats
Pesticide exposure, along with neonicotinoids, has become another large threat after the habitat destruction. Firefly tourism has also resulted in certain concerns for some species. The number of fireflies around the world is more than 2000 and we can see that some types are thriving.
Extinction Status
As far as IUCN Red List is concerned, the data show that 20 percent of firefly taxa studied are on the verge of extinction. Protecting wetlands, grasslands and city parks helps stem the sixth mass extinction.
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