Fireflies: Where did they go?

Tuesday, July 3, 2012
    
     I grew up in central Florida and as a child, we had plenty of fireflies.  We would collect them in jars and make our own lanterns. My husband grew up in a suburb of Chicago, but spent a lot of summer with family in Michigan. They also had a lot of fireflies.  Homemade glow sticks were a summer tradition. Yes, they would mush and smear the tail of fireflies all over sticks. 
     We are on our annual family vacation to the mountains and there are fireflies everywhere. This is the only place my eleven year old has ever seen them. We do not have any in central Florida or anywhere we have traveled other than the Smoky Mountains. So, of course, my curious child said…”Mom, where did they all go?”
     This is what I found… development and light pollution (yes, we have too many lights!). Humans are believed to disrupt firefly habitat also.  The more our population grows in areas, the less fireflies are seen.  Our open fields and forests are being paved over, and our waterways are seeing more development. Logging, pollution and increased use of pesticides may also contribute to destroying firefly habitat and natural prey.
I am working an a firefly unit and will post it soon!

7 comments

  1. Maybe too many of us smooshed them for glow sticks! oops
    Blessings,

    Jessica Stanford
    Mrs. Stanford's Class
    I hope that you'll join me for my giveaway ♥

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  2. When I was a kid, we made beautiful rings! :-) I'm your newest follower.

    imgoingfirst@gmail.com

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  3. Penny, I'm happy to share the Versatile Blogging award with you over at Kindergarten's 3 R's- LOVE you photos and blog and am looking forward to adding it to my blogroll.

    Hope you're having a wonderful summer!

    Michaele

    Post is "Six Years of Versatile Blogging" http://kidney-garden.blogspot.com/2012/07/six-years-of-versatile-blogging.html

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  4. I used to catch them and put them in mason jars. After a bit I would set them free! I love watching fireflies!
    Amy
    Where Seconds Count 2nd grade blog

    ReplyDelete
  5. You're Awesome!!http://fcsandthensome.blogspot.com/2012/07/versitile-blogger.html

    ReplyDelete

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