Chief Longwind Of The North
Certified/Certifiable
Well friends, we are on the path to taking away yet another of this planet's magical cre atures. We all know about bee colony collapse. We all know that various species of birds are threatened with extinction because of herbicides, pesticides, and loss of habitat. But did you know that the humble firefly, aka lightning bug is threatened as well. And again the problems is pesticides, loss of habitat, and get this, light pollution. There is a particular pesticide at work, the same one that is thought to be a strong contributor to the bee colony collapse. It is a systemic pesticide, meaning that it is absorbed into the plant through the roots, and is in pollen, flowers, and leaves. Fireflies also need tall grass and bushy areas in which to hide during the day, and lay their eggs. Moist areas with puddles or ponds are required as well. Lastly, the firefly has many species, each a little different than the other. The flashing luminescence is a code that is unique to each species. And that code is what allows boy and girl fireflies to find each other and mate. Our security lights, our outdoor light posts, and of course street lights are much brighter than the little flashing tails of fireflies, and makes it hard for pairs to find each other.
What can we do? Where possible, we can leave a little brush and tall grass as habitat. It will benefit bees, fireflies, butterflies, etc. When we purchase plants that are supposed to attract those little insects we want, we have to purchase certified organic plants, so that we know the producer is not adding systemic insecticides to the plants before selling them. Lastly, again where possible, we need to turn of nighttime, outdoor lights.
If we all do our little part, maybe we can bring back the magic of our childhood days, with not only fireflies, but butterflies of all kinds, and wild bees, and native flowers and plants, which again attract mosquito eating birds, and all manner of life. And if we turn down the lights, and quit being afraid of the dark, maybe we can look into a clear, night sky, and see the Milky Way again, and maybe even the Aurora Borealis.
I would love to be able to take my grandkids outside and show them the wonders of the universe, and that includes the wonders that used to be found in our back yards.
Seeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North
What can we do? Where possible, we can leave a little brush and tall grass as habitat. It will benefit bees, fireflies, butterflies, etc. When we purchase plants that are supposed to attract those little insects we want, we have to purchase certified organic plants, so that we know the producer is not adding systemic insecticides to the plants before selling them. Lastly, again where possible, we need to turn of nighttime, outdoor lights.
If we all do our little part, maybe we can bring back the magic of our childhood days, with not only fireflies, but butterflies of all kinds, and wild bees, and native flowers and plants, which again attract mosquito eating birds, and all manner of life. And if we turn down the lights, and quit being afraid of the dark, maybe we can look into a clear, night sky, and see the Milky Way again, and maybe even the Aurora Borealis.
I would love to be able to take my grandkids outside and show them the wonders of the universe, and that includes the wonders that used to be found in our back yards.
Seeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North