Where did the fireflies go?
on glowing with native plants
In late May 2020, I was lying on the couch at my parents’ house. I had hastily moved out of my apartment in March as the news of a virus spreading began to spread. Most of my belongings were in the basement of a relative’s, and I was living out of a suitcase under the guise that I would be moving back out in 6 weeks when we were told it would be safe again. I don’t have to tell you that six weeks stretched into months and months. COVID-19 seemed to stretch time like a taffy puller.
For the first time in 5 years, all 5 of us were living under the same roof again. We were making pancakes in the morning again, we were bickering about silly things like who got the last slice of pie, we were playing Mario Kart and Monopoly again. We also had become fascinated with aliens and soon found ourselves binge-watching the X Files, a show that my parents were obsessed with when they were dating and newlyweds.
Our living room has tall windows that stand from floor to ceiling; it’s the perfect view into our backyard that leads down to a creek that feeds off of Lee Branch. Growing up, we often watched stray cats, deer, lost dogs, and the occasional fox or coyote peer out through the trees and bushes. There are flower beds leftover from our late neighbor, Joe, who prided himself on his roses, and there are two giant rocks — one being the headstone for two of my childhood pet hermit crabs.
That night, I remember being distracted from whatever creature Mulder was trying to find, or whatever myth Scully was trying to debunk, when I saw that familiar golden-green glow. Poof. It was gone. I waited and waited, and there it was again, the single solitary evidence of a lightning bug. Only two more appeared from what I could count, and I remember a cold feeling settling into my stomach: Where did the fireflies go?
There is no one singular answer to this question. Habitat loss. Light pollution. Climate change. Those are just a few of the reasons why their populations are dwindling. Researchers in 2021 found that 14% of firefly species were under the threat of extinction1. When forests are cut down to make parking lots, office buildings, and homes, fireflies lose their home. Out of 2,200 species of fireflies known worldwide, 50 of them are found in Alabama2.
Growing up when we practically lived outside, the fireflies twinkled all around us. In the leaves of the trees, they landed on my arm and snuggled into the crook of my elbow. That summer in 2020, I waited and waited—the crowd never seemed to join us completely. Now, I find myself participating in a genre of domesticity I never imagined to find myself in. I’m a baker, a quilter, and a hostess, but I’m not a greenhouse goddess by any means. The only living plant that I haven’t managed to kill is a snake plant who, frankly, likes to be abused (read: loves dry soil! So when I forget to water it—she continues to thrive).
While we face challenges there are things that we can do as homeowners and renters that helps fireflies, butterflies, and other insects feel right at home. One of those ways is by filling our gardens, planters, and patio pots with native plants.
Native plants require less water and fewer pesticides than non-native plants. They provide food, shelter, and a habitat that help restore our ecosystem. The best part is that they thrive in our gardens because—well—they belong here!
If you are local to Alabama, you might find native plant sales all around you. Jefferson County Greenways hosts native plant sales every Saturday in April from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Ruffner Mountain Greenhouse. Each plant is propagated from Turkey Creek, Red Mountain, or Ruffner Mountain. Members of the park receive a discount on purchases, and staff are onsite to tell you about the plants and how to take care of them.
Take a look at their catalogue. It is filled with flowers, trees, bushes, vines, herbs, and grass that will keep your front lawn beautiful while helping our insect friends grow, glow, and thrive. Take up your trowel and dig in, plant your local plants, and tell your neighbor about the benefits, too. Think of our firefly friends with each water and floral burst; perhaps one day, maybe, we’ll see our firefly friends in great booms again.
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East, Chip, and Xing Ping Hu. “Fireflies: A Beneficial Insect.” Alabama Cooperative Extension System, 7 Apr. 2025, www.aces.edu/blog/topics/lawn-garden/fireflies-a-beneficial-insect/#:~:text=There%20are%20about%2075%20species,Alabama%2C%20Georgia%2C%20and%20Florida.
“Fireflies: A Beneficial Insect.”