Why fireflies are only spotted in summer and where lightning bugs live the rest of the year

2 comments

1. Here’s a preview of the story:

   Firefly fans who’d like to see lightning bugs year-round are out of luck.

   The insect, which is a type of beetle, is usually seen only between spring and summer, with different species emerging at different times. The first fireflies of the season come out later in the year as you move farther north.

   The fireflies people see glowing and flying around are adults, said Sara Lewis, author of “Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies.” Their time aboveground before dying is brief, with fireflies actually spending the bulk of their lives living underground.

   “One of the very surprising things about fireflies is that the ones that we’re used to seeing — the very charming, ethereal adults that are flying around in summertime — they have a backstory,” Lewis said. “They are really just the back end of a firefly life cycle.”

   **Read more:** [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fireflies-summer-adult-emergence-larvae-life-underground/?ftag=CNM-05-10abh9g](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fireflies-summer-adult-emergence-larvae-life-underground/?ftag=CNM-05-10abh9g)

2. Perfect timing ! There were so many out last night that I got my kids out of bed to watch them. This will answer a bunch of their questions.