Step outside in Iowa and you’ll notice a plethora of fireflies shining in backyards and along county highways.
Why it matters: They’re a quintessential part of our Midwest summers, but there’s been growing concern about their decline.
State of play: Fireflies in Iowa experienced the “perfect” reproducing conditions last year and this year, contributing to their recent pop off, says Zach Schumm, an ISU insect diagnostician.
- Iowa’s years of drought were hard on them, but a milder winter and spring rainfall have helped their larvae.
- The rain also increases their food sources, like snails, slugs and worms.
- “I’ve not seen this many fireflies in over a decade,” Schumm says, who previously lived in Maryland.
Zoom in: There are 270 firefly species in North America, and it’s hard to know which ones are in Iowa, Schumm says.
- It’s also hard to forecast when it will be a good year for them.
The big picture: In general, firefly populations have declined over the last 100 years, said Megan Abraham, division director and state entomologist at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
- While certain species may face more dwindling populations due to habitat loss, Schumm doesn’t expect Iowa’s population to go anywhere anytime soon.
- “It’s funny because earlier this year we were getting a lot of news articles that we might be the last generation to see fireflies, but somehow the perfect conditions were created for reproduction last year into this year,” he says.
The intrigue: While Des Moines didn’t spray for mosquitoes this year, Schumm says he doesn’t expect a direct correlation between that and the increase in fireflies, since they’re prevalent across Iowa…