We used to see fireflies by the hundreds on a warm summer night. The past few years there have been perhaps five for the ENTIRE summer. Same thing with the butterflies, we have not seen even one.But there are plenty of ticks and mosquitoes
One of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen was on a back road in New Jersey’s northwest corner. It was twilight as we came around a turn between two large green fields. They were alight with tens of thousands of butterflies. This was before cell phones so the only picture I have is memory. Nearly every time we take this route my wife or now grown son will comment on that miracle. Thanks for another chance to remember.
I was walking my dog one night on the campus of a Catholic college that was hosting a priest’s conference. I came across a priest who had just seen fireflies, or lightning bugs, for the first time. Apparently they were not native to wherever he came from. He asked if I could see them too. I’m not a believer, but I almost hated to let him know he wasn’t having a religious vision.
“In 2015 it was shown and quantified for the first time the negative effects of direct illumination on fireflies, in a study that monitored populations over four years. Multiple recent studies investigate deeply the effects of artificial night lighting on fireflies.
Fireflies are charismatic (which is a rare quality amongst insects) and are easily spotted by non-experts, providing thus good flagship species to attract public attention; good investigation models for the effects of light on nocturnal wildlife; and finally, due to their sensibility and rapid response to environmental changes, good bioindicators for artificial night lighting." WIKI
rush.diana almost 6 years ago
We used to see fireflies by the hundreds on a warm summer night. The past few years there have been perhaps five for the ENTIRE summer. Same thing with the butterflies, we have not seen even one.But there are plenty of ticks and mosquitoes
yox465 almost 6 years ago
One of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen was on a back road in New Jersey’s northwest corner. It was twilight as we came around a turn between two large green fields. They were alight with tens of thousands of butterflies. This was before cell phones so the only picture I have is memory. Nearly every time we take this route my wife or now grown son will comment on that miracle. Thanks for another chance to remember.
yox465 almost 6 years ago
I saw fireflies but I wrote butterflies. That was a different memory.
sandpiper almost 6 years ago
On another note, I fully understand and empathize with Rose’s reversion to childhood memories in this strip. I would do the same
rroush Premium Member almost 6 years ago
I was walking my dog one night on the campus of a Catholic college that was hosting a priest’s conference. I came across a priest who had just seen fireflies, or lightning bugs, for the first time. Apparently they were not native to wherever he came from. He asked if I could see them too. I’m not a believer, but I almost hated to let him know he wasn’t having a religious vision.
feverjr Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Light pollution negatively effects firefly habitat…..
“In 2015 it was shown and quantified for the first time the negative effects of direct illumination on fireflies, in a study that monitored populations over four years. Multiple recent studies investigate deeply the effects of artificial night lighting on fireflies.
Fireflies are charismatic (which is a rare quality amongst insects) and are easily spotted by non-experts, providing thus good flagship species to attract public attention; good investigation models for the effects of light on nocturnal wildlife; and finally, due to their sensibility and rapid response to environmental changes, good bioindicators for artificial night lighting." WIKI
Skylark almost 6 years ago
One of my grown up-childish moments is when I get back east and get to chase them!