r/interesting • u/brainland • 24d ago

NATURE Seems we are the last generation to witness fireflies. When last do you see them?

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I was thinking about these bugs few days ago and I struggle to remember when last I saw them.

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u/DrDr1972 24d ago

We’ve had a severe drought for 3 summers.  They were more prolific before. Enough that we could walk down our drive(about 1/4 of a mile ) and they would  land on us  as we walked.  But yes , with data centers abound and all the other crap,  I’m afraid they will be no more.  

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u/bostonvikinguc 24d ago

The use of lawn care services and pest spraying is the a downfall but outside lighting being so affordable and prevalent is also an issue.

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u/DrDr1972 24d ago

Two things I don’t have.  Outdoor lighting or pesticides. You’re right.  I was surprised to see “mosquito trucks” were still a thing.  I remember them as a child when I lived in a city. 

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u/bostonvikinguc 24d ago

Everyone around me has very few and ask me why do I? I don’t manicure my lawn or spray for pests. They love my butterfly garden but hate how it looks.

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u/CharleyNobody 23d ago

You can tell the difference between someone who gardens for nature and someone who gardens for looks/status. Our gardens can look messy, can have bare spots where our spring or early summer plants died back, can have tall plants that people find ugly.

I watch women in my town buy beautiful fully grown exotic plants and they look so pretty on their cart at checkout ….but you know they won’t attract butterflies or bees.

My husnad still can’t understand why my side garden looks so beautiful now but looked so brown and ugly throughout late spring/early summer. I keep explaining to him that I have to let the daffodil leaves die back and become yellow and brown because they need to feed the bulbs. I can’t plant new things (or transplant wayward perennials) until nature finishes spring cleaning,

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u/brainland 24d ago

It's sad that while we evolve, some aspect of nature gets affected negatively.

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u/oryx_za 24d ago

I really desperately want to stick my head in the sand about climate change but it's near impossible.

It's also not just about global climate but even local issues like river pollution or pesticides. Really worrying.