Remember catching these glowing bugs and keeping them in a jar, after poking holes in the lid with an ice pick, only to wake up the next morning to be disappointed that they didn't make it through the night? Still, that didn't prevent you (me!) from doing the same thing again that night.
I'd noticed the last couple of summers that you'd be hard pressed to find many lightning bugs, let alone enough to keep one another company in a little jar. At least, that's how it seemed here in Illinois. But THIS summer...they are everywhere! It's kind of neat to see just how many are lighting up all over the place. Brings back those summertime memories.
I'm just curious--what happened? Why so few for a few years and now all of a sudden so many? Is it like this in other areas, or just here in the humid, sticky Midwest?
Replies
33
Beach Fanatic
Remember catching these glowing bugs and keeping them in a jar, after poking holes in the lid with an ice pick, only to wake up the next morning to be disappointed that they didn't make it through the night? Still, that didn't prevent you (me!) from doing the same thing again that night.
I'd noticed the last couple of summers that you'd be hard pressed to find many lightning bugs, let alone enough to keep one another company in a little jar. At least, that's how it seemed here in Illinois. But THIS summer...they are everywhere! It's kind of neat to see just how many are lighting up all over the place. Brings back those summertime memories.
I'm just curious--what happened? Why so few for a few years and now all of a sudden so many? Is it like this in other areas, or just here in the humid, sticky Midwest?
Lucky 13, it is so odd that you would pose this question. I have been wondering the same thing. For the last week our back yard has been just full of lightning bugs. My husband and I have even discussed in years past why there weren't lightning bugs flashing like when we were kids. :idontno: Kinda reminds me of those little (and I mean tiny) frogs SJ posted a picture of last year. I haven't seen those since I was a kid.
sussaAuthor
It's amazing how many are out this summer. I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed!
Meow
:clap_1: Lightning bugs and the sound of cicadas in the trees....SUMMER!
Beach Lover
There is more of every kind of wildlife, it seems to me. We've got a backyard full of lightning bugs already.. we hardly saw any last year.
Also, we went to the lake for Memorial Day, there were frogs, caterpillars, and turtles ALL OVER THE PLACE. We even had a baby deer (smaller than my sister's Weimaraner) run right through our clearing. I've been going to the same place for ~30 years, and have never seen a deer that close.
Mild winter, maybe?
Also, we went to the lake for Memorial Day, there were frogs, caterpillars, and turtles ALL OVER THE PLACE. We even had a baby deer (smaller than my sister's Weimaraner) run right through our clearing. I've been going to the same place for ~30 years, and have never seen a deer that close.
Mild winter, maybe?
sussaAuthor
Maybe that's it, the mild winter, I really don't know and can't find anything about it. I'm not complaining, I do like to see them!
Beach Comber
hey sus!!!!!!!!!!!!
:clap_1: :bang: :floor:
:clap_1: :bang: :floor:
SoWal Insider
There is more of every kind of wildlife, it seems to me. We've got a backyard full of lightning bugs already.. we hardly saw any last year.
Also, we went to the lake for Memorial Day, there were frogs, caterpillars, and turtles ALL OVER THE PLACE. We even had a baby deer (smaller than my sister's Weimaraner) run right through our clearing. I've been going to the same place for ~30 years, and have never seen a deer that close.
Mild winter, maybe?
Sorry...to get off topic...but I love Weimaraners. My friend has one that is so smart. We are constantly laughing at that big ol thing though. He loves to help bring in the plastic grocery bags form the car. 😀 But you have to watch him, he then likes to go through them looking for treats.
Now, what lake do you go to that you see all this wildlife?
sussaAuthor
Hey!
Your hair cut looks good--I need to see it in person!
Your hair cut looks good--I need to see it in person!
Beach Lover
Sorry...to get off topic...but I love Weimaraners. My friend has one that is so smart. We are constantly laughing at that big ol thing though. He loves to help bring in the plastic grocery bags form the car. 😀 But you have to watch him, he then likes to go through them looking for treats.
Now, what lake do you go to that you see all this wildlife?
Henry (sis's dog) isn't smart.. he's a dope. He's a big clumsy oaf, and he's adorable. She's Gracie's mom, too, btw.. no fair, she gets the cute kids AND dogs.. :wub:
We went down to Rough River. We've been going camping down there since I was tiny. My dad bought about 7 acres of woods (in the middle of a BIG bunch of woods), and we've gone down there a few times a year pretty much all my life. Roughing it.. tent camping, no electricity or running water. It's not for everybody, but we love it. 🙂
Beach Fanatic
We went down to Rough River. We've been going camping down there since I was tiny. My dad bought about 7 acres of woods (in the middle of a BIG bunch of woods), and we've gone down there a few times a year pretty much all my life. Roughing it.. tent camping, no electricity or running water. It's not for everybody, but we love it. 🙂
Aquaticbiology will absolutely adore you. :wub:
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.com
I love the lightening bugs!!! I asked my dad, while I was in Florence a few weeks ago, why we were seeing more of them around and his reply was (pertaining to his area) that they had not sprayed for mosquitos yet. Spraying kills the lightening bugs as well as the nasty mosquitos.:roll:
I tend to believe that it was the mild winter? Educated 🙂roll: ) guess.
I tend to believe that it was the mild winter? Educated 🙂roll: ) guess.
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.com
Henry (sis's dog) isn't smart.. he's a dope. He's a big clumsy oaf, and he's adorable. She's Gracie's mom, too, btw.. no fair, she gets the cute kids AND dogs.. :wub:sounds like a kids paradise! What wonderful memories for you! Now a days...its...what???? no computer, TV or bathroom????😱 😱 :floor: :floor:
We went down to Rough River. We've been going camping down there since I was tiny. My dad bought about 7 acres of woods (in the middle of a BIG bunch of woods), and we've gone down there a few times a year pretty much all my life. Roughing it.. tent camping, no electricity or running water. It's not for everybody, but we love it. 🙂
sussaAuthor
that's so sad. unfortunately, the mosquitos love me, but i would much rather watch the lightning bugs!
I like weimaraners, too. Unfortunately, my husband is a cat person :(
So, we compromised and we have a Beta named Howard :rolling:
I like weimaraners, too. Unfortunately, my husband is a cat person :(
So, we compromised and we have a Beta named Howard :rolling:
superJfunn
what about louie the lightening bug
SoWal Insider
Henry (sis's dog) isn't smart.. he's a dope. He's a big clumsy oaf, and he's adorable. She's Gracie's mom, too, btw.. no fair, she gets the cute kids AND dogs.. :wub:
We went down to Rough River. We've been going camping down there since I was tiny. My dad bought about 7 acres of woods (in the middle of a BIG bunch of woods), and we've gone down there a few times a year pretty much all my life. Roughing it.. tent camping, no electricity or running water. It's not for everybody, but we love it. 🙂
My kids go there more than I do anymore. I used to go, haven't been since I was a teenager. Sounds like funn, and good memories of your Dad too I bet!
SoWal Insider
Don't laugh at me too much but ... I had seriously never seen lightning bugs until I went to the N.C. mountains for a weekend last summer. I have lived in Florida most of my life, the California desert for a couple of years and the Boston area for one summer ... never seen any until last July. I did not know how weird that made me until I went all berzerk over the lightning bugs and people looked at me like I was insane. :floor:
Never seen any in Florida, but haven't spent a lot of summer time north of Gainesville. Are they common in N. Florida? :idontno:
Never seen any in Florida, but haven't spent a lot of summer time north of Gainesville. Are they common in N. Florida? :idontno:
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.com
Don't laugh at me too much but ... I had seriously never seen lightning bugs until I went to the N.C. mountains for a weekend last summer. I have lived in Florida most of my life, the California desert for a couple of years and the Boston area for one summer ... never seen any until last July. I did not know how weird that made me until I went all berzerk over the lightning bugs and people looked at me like I was insane. :floor:I don't know....:idontno: I grew up in Florence SC and we always had LB's (AKA Fireflies) . I would have loved to have seen you go buzzzzerk over the fireflies!:clap_1:
Never seen any in Florida, but haven't spent a lot of summer time north of Gainesville. Are they common in N. Florida? :idontno:
sussaAuthor
Yeah, that's so wild to think of NOT seeing them. We caught them all the time. Some meanies used to kill them and write their names on the concrete with the glowing parts :shock:
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
This book:
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/0140561889/ref=dp_image_0/104-3451805-0767120?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=283155&s=books"]
[/ame]
Is one of my son and I's, favorite all time bedtime story books. I can't count the times I have read it to him over the years. All you mom's and grandma's go get this book, or order it from Amazon,the illustrations are some of the best I have ever seen. I love fireflies.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/0140561889/ref=dp_image_0/104-3451805-0767120?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=283155&s=books"]
[/ame]Is one of my son and I's, favorite all time bedtime story books. I can't count the times I have read it to him over the years. All you mom's and grandma's go get this book, or order it from Amazon,the illustrations are some of the best I have ever seen. I love fireflies.
Beach Lover
Yeah, that's so wild to think of NOT seeing them. We caught them all the time. Some meanies used to kill them and write their names on the concrete with the glowing parts :shock:
Well.. some girlie-meanies used to squish them, and wear the glowing parts as "rings" on their fingers, attached to a piece of grass.
Then they'd chase their poor younger sister (whose name might have been Amy) around with them..
Memories. :wub:
Meow
Does anyone remember the Book Sam and the Firefly? I loved that book to death...I still have it around here somewhere...it was about an owl named Sam and a lightning bug that got in lots of trouble!
Beach Fanatic
Well.. some girlie-meanies used to squish them, and wear the glowing parts as "rings" on their fingers, attached to a piece of grass.
Memories. :wub:
Funny you should mention that. I was just talking about doing this on Sunday night. It seemed like fun at the time but looking back it was kinda gross wearing dead bugs on your finger/wrist!
SoWal Insider
Evidently I missed out on something! :( Good stories though.
sussaAuthor
Funny you should mention that. I was just talking about doing this on Sunday night. It seemed like fun at the time but looking back it was kinda gross wearing dead bugs on your finger/wrist!
Funny how we can hate spiders, crickets and whatever else crawls on us, but fireflies and ladybugs, we love them!
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.com
Does anyone remember the Book Sam and the Firefly? I loved that book to death...I still have it around here somewhere...it was about an owl named Sam and a lightning bug that got in lots of trouble!Yes! I was in the children's book club when my son was young...used to get 3 books a month...Dr. Seuss etc... Sam and the Firefly was one ......cute book!
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