Fireflies

[Sparksfurn]

Is there any place or season to see fireflies in the villages? We are new to The Villages, we’re Northerners?
Thanks.

[Stu from NYC]

Hmm interesting, thinking we have not seen any since living here

[Topspinmo]

Have seen firefly in Florida. Don’t remember seeing one in Oklahoma. Last time was in Nebraska and Missouri for me.

[Topspinmo]

According to this they are in Florida but maybe not for long?

Your browser is not supported | usatoday.com (https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2023/06/02/firefly-lightning-bug-extinction-explained/70257108007/#:~:text=Fireflies%20are%20found%20all%20around,un detectable%20to%20the%20human%20eye).

[Eg_cruz]

Is there any place or season to see fireflies in the villages? We are new to The Villages, we’re Northerners?
Thanks.
We used to chase them up in PA as a kid. I have been in FL over 20 year and I have never seen one down here :(

[fdpaq0580]

Fireflies? No! But, alternatively, we do have lovebugs! Enjoy getting to know them! 🤭🙂🙃🫠😉

[Rwatson1]

The reason there are no fireflies is because of all the pesticides being applied on a daily basis. Every one has the yard sprayed every time they see any kind of bug. The pesticides kill all. This is Florida, we have bugs.

[CarlR33]

The reason there are no fireflies is because of all the pesticides being applied on a daily basis. Every one has the yard sprayed every time they see any kind of bug. The pesticides kill all. This is Florida, we have bugs. It took me one search to find this one thread for the facts.

Why Are Fireflies Disappearing? Information on the Decline of Fireflies | Firefly.org (https://www.firefly.org/why-are-fireflies-disappearing.html)

[Kelevision]

Is there any place or season to see fireflies in the villages? We are new to The Villages, we’re Northerners?
Thanks.

As a kid growing up here. I saw them all the time (we call them lightning bugs here). I moved back here 3 years ago from Atlanta and saw them there too but haven’t seen any in TV. My dad’s house is in Leesburg on Lake Harris and I can see them there.

[Windguy]

I’ve seen them around the swampy areas here in TV. It is such a delight when I see them.

[Two Bills]

We have glow-worms in the UK, but hardly see any now, compared to when we were kids.
Same with butterflies. We had whole meadows of butterflies, but nothing like the numbers now.

We have made our garden planting as butterfly and bee friendly as possible, and summer to fall many can be seen all around us, we love it, but it is a drop in the ocean compared to what needs doing to reverse the population downward trend.

Our bee decline is becoming a major disaster in the offing, loss of habitat, invasive species, over use of pesticides and disease is playing havoc on bee and hover species population.
It is a very serious problem when a main germination force is in decline.
Lip service and promises are expressed by successive governments, but the usual attitude of "it's not a problem until it's a disaster" prevails.

[Kelevision]

I’ve seen them around the swampy areas here in TV. It is such a delight when I see them.

And wooded areas. I bet you could see them on some of the walking trails south of 44 near the woods too.

[wawriwwawriw]

=Sparksfurn;2316897]Is there any place or season to see fireflies in the villages? We are new to The Villages, we’re Northerners?
Thanks.[/QUOTE]
In almost 20 years in Florida I may count the number of fireflies seen with one hand. But think about the amount of pesticides and herbicides used in this State due to development and agriculture, add to this the amount of development. Still, there are over 50 species of them in Fl. Good luck finding them.

[GizmoWhiskers]

Is there any place or season to see fireflies in the villages? We are new to The Villages, we’re Northerners?
Thanks.
Have lived in FL since 1987 and have never seen a firefly. Miss that from being a kid living in CT.

We do have awesome sized roaches. Put a light on one of them and you could use them as night lights to find your way to the kitchen.

Thinking about fire-flys brings back memories. I miss the soft northern Kentucky Blue grass - great for cloud watching and the days of picnics and playing as a kid. You don't dare lay on a lawn in FL with our state mascot being the fire ant.
Course what good old fashioned cloud watching would one do in FL these days anyway.

[RWhitburn]

This was posted yesterday on their FB page - it is near Winter Garden:

We are excited to announce the fireflies are back at Oakland Nature Preserve!

The Preserve will be open until 9pm select nights, starting this Saturday, March 30, to allow visitors to explore the boardwalk and look for fireflies.

The boardwalk will be open until 9 pm. Sunset is at 7:43 pm, come enjoy a stroll as the sunsets and the fireflies make their appearance.

Other upcoming dates will be posted as they are scheduled.

We will have a staff member at the start of the boardwalk to answer any questions you may have. Please park in the grass overflow lot outside of the gate.

Handicap parking spaces will remain accessible in our regular lot.

This event is free of charge, but donations are very appreciated.

Please, no flashlights and little to no insect repellent as a courtesy to other visitors and animals at the preserve.

Please, no smoking on the boardwalk/Preserve property, it has been very dry, and fires can start very easily in these hot conditions.

Event will be canceled in the case of inclement weather, please check our Facebook page for updates.

[Altavia]

Firefly nights at Blue Spring State Park start March 16, 2024, likely to continue for 2 – 3 weeks.

Fireflies in Florida: How to see ''spectacular lightshow" (https://www.floridarambler.com/central-florida-getaways/fireflies-in-florida/)

[bowlingal]

no fireflies here, but if you wait another month you will see lovebugs. They get on everything and can destroy the finish on your car. Make sure you wash your car when you see them on it. They are mostly attracted to light colors. NOT a pleasant experience. They come 2x a year.....May and September

[pattihopeBB]

We have seen 1-2 from our lanai in Newell the past few weeks. Our lanai backs up to a preserve so there are acres of woods.

We lived in Bonnybrook for 8 years and never saw one. This was a pleasant surprise.

But not the thousands we saw in Michigan as children.

[MandoMan]

Hmm interesting, thinking we have not seen any since living here

I used to see a lot of them seasonally when I lived in rural Pennsylvania, but I’ve never seen one here. I’ve also never seen a mosquito around my house, thankfully. However, there are 56 species of fireflies native to Florida. A couple nights ago I sat on the veranda of Evans Prairie Country Club, which overlooks a beautiful swamp. As it got dark, more and more mosquitoes came out, as the golf course there, I hear, is not sprayed for them. I didn’t see any fireflies, but that might be a good place to find some.

[Aulicino]

Is there any place or season to see fireflies in the villages? We are new to The Villages, we’re Northerners?
Thanks.

Been in Florida 37 years, never saw a firefly.

[ThirdOfFive]

Is there any place or season to see fireflies in the villages? We are new to The Villages, we’re Northerners?
Thanks.
They're here, just not in TV. We've farm-sat several times for a farmer and his wife out beyond Lake Weir and have seen them there. Not many: I remember them in the spring in Northern Minnesota when the low spots in the fields were spectacular with them.

[Dantes]

Yes lighting bugs are here they start in March and April
Near woods and ponds. You may need to take a ride outside the bubble because of the constant construction and spraying

[glsatterlee]

Yes, there are fireflies down here, but they are not in swarms of small bugs, like back north. I’ve only seen a couple, at most at one time, and they are somewhat larger bug than back north. Two or three times larger.

We also live off from a wetlands preserve.

[Retiredsteve]

Is there any place or season to see fireflies in the villages? We are new to The Villages, we’re Northerners?
Thanks. Firefly's fluorescence is very dependent on ambient light. The more light the less the light up. We were up in Tenn at a State Park and there were tons. You get into more lit up cities and you see less. We light our castles like beacons on hills then wonder why we don't see the stars or lightning bugs.

[maistocars]

And wooded areas. I bet you could see them on some of the walking trails south of 44 near the woods too.
Yes, absolutely! In the wooded areas south of 44 -Chitty Chatty, Bradford, Homestead Rec Center.

[LeRoySmith]

the lightening bugs flash in unison in the smoky mt park, its quite a sight

[frayedends]

I've seen them in my backyard in Lake Denham on the preserve.

[jimjamuser]

The reason there are no fireflies is because of all the pesticides being applied on a daily basis. Every one has the yard sprayed every time they see any kind of bug. The pesticides kill all. This is Florida, we have bugs.
We need pesticides that know the good bugs from the bad ones.

[jimjamuser]

We have glow-worms in the UK, but hardly see any now, compared to when we were kids.
Same with butterflies. We had whole meadows of butterflies, but nothing like the numbers now.

We have made our garden planting as butterfly and bee friendly as possible, and summer to fall many can be seen all around us, we love it, but it is a drop in the ocean compared to what needs doing to reverse the population downward trend.

Our bee decline is becoming a major disaster in the offing, loss of habitat, invasive species, over use of pesticides and disease is playing havoc on bee and hover species population.
It is a very serious problem when a main germination force is in decline.
Lip service and promises are expressed by successive governments, but the usual attitude of "it's not a problem until it's a disaster" prevails.
Too much pesticide. pollution, and population.

[AMB444]

The reason there are no fireflies is because of all the pesticides being applied on a daily basis. Every one has the yard sprayed every time they see any kind of bug. The pesticides kill all. This is Florida, we have bugs.

They are not that common up in the midwest anymore due to pesticides on yards and crops. Sad.

[Two Bills]

Too much pesticide. pollution, and population.

Pretty sure that is what I said.

[Wilharm]

Is there any place or season to see fireflies in the villages? We are new to The Villages, we’re Northerners?
Thanks. Hike after dark from the Lake Norris trailhead. You will see hundreds.

[Innserelli]

Is there any place or season to see fireflies in the villages? We are new to The Villages, we’re Northerners?
Thanks.

We have fireflies in Florida, and what I have noticed is that they seem to like tall grasses, or underbrush near trees. Mainly grass is seems to be a great place for them. We haven’t seen any since we’ve been here in The Villages (two years) but we don’t have any tall grasses near us for habitat. My guess would be to visit Okahumpka Rec Center areas after dark.

[Regorp]

Is there any place or season to see fireflies in the villages? We are new to The Villages, we’re Northerners?
Thanks.

Loved seeing them in CT in summer, but never seen them here. Thousands of millipedes, earwigs, though. Enjoy!!

[Nana2Teddy]

no fireflies here, but if you wait another month you will see lovebugs. They get on everything and can destroy the finish on your car. Make sure you wash your car when you see them on it. They are mostly attracted to light colors. NOT a pleasant experience. They come 2x a year.....May and September
We waited and waited for them last year in both May and September, and never saw them down here south of 44. My hubs did take a trip to Bushnell though, and came home with the hood of our car covered with them.

[Rainger99]

Is there any place or season to see fireflies in the villages? We are new to The Villages, we’re Northerners?
Thanks.


Where to Find Florida Fireflies - UF/IFAS Extension Polk County (https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/polkco/2021/06/05/where-to-find-florida-fireflies/)