Lately, more and more people are asking the question:
“What happened to all of our fireflies?”
Or, as we sometimes call them in East Texas, “lightning bugs.”
It’s a question I’ve asked myself many times. You’ve probably wondered about it too.
Summer Nights in East Texas
As a little girl growing up in East Texas, there was so much I loved about the summertime. The best part? Freedom from school, long hours spent swimming, grabbing snow cones with friends, and enjoying backyard cookouts.
But, hands down, the most magical part of summer was sitting outside as twilight fell and watching fireflies, or lightning bugs, light up the trees and natural areas around our home.
There was always a hush in the air as we admired these tiny creatures. Their glowing lights added an extra sparkle to the evening after a perfect day, and it felt like a magical moment in time.
Where Are the Fireflies Now?
These days, I’m lucky if I see even a few fireflies in the distance. It’s not the same as before.
So, what happened to the fireflies in Texas?
Ben Pfeiffer, a firefly researcher and naturalist based in New Braunfels, might have some answers. In a 2019 interview with Texas Monthly, he sheds some light on why fireflies are disappearing.