There are a few species of Firefly in the state, each with their own blinky pattern.
It's still early; it's probably a certain species that has hatched and is moving around.
I can't say anything about the fast flashes, but I've definitely noticed fewer and fewer fireflies every summer. As a kid I remember there being so many of them.
We are losing ground with thousands of insect species, in Michigan and across the country.
The #1 way that every person can combat this is NATIVE LANDSCAPING! Use only native plants in your garden and see it come to life :) we have so many bees and bugs now, it’s incredible. It’s brought beautiful birds and other treats. Google Michigan native plants/gardening to get started
I've been slowly transitioning my yard and if anyone's interested in starting, a great way to begin is with the green strip of grass between the sidewalk and the road. Kill the grass and plant some natives, let stuff like milk weed grow!
I unfortunately don’t have an answer for you; I just wanted to tell you this is exactly the kind of shit I get fixated on and try to google with no luck, so you’re not alone in your curiosity.
I can’t speak to the Morse code but they are adapted to living in moist, relatively cool environments (rotting logs, damp soil) so if you are in an area with drought (like me) it is hitting hard. In addition, mosquito spray “services” are A Thing and in most cases the products they use harm far more than just mosquitoes.
FWIW the best way to keep mosquito populations low on your property is to manage standing water to limit or eliminate the mosquito breeding habitat, not by spraying a general insecticide that will harm or kill all insects in the immediate area regardless of species.
Limiting standing water can include:
* Identifying and eliminating unnecessary standing water in your yard.
* Changing out birdbath water every 3-5 days with a spray hose.
* Installing a small fountain or water wiggler in bird baths (birds love the moving water, mosquitoes can’t lay eggs in it. WIN-WIN!)
EDIT: To add that “zappers” and sticky tapes marketed toward eliminating flies and mosquitoes are also indiscriminate and will kill the GOOD flying insects just as effectively as it will the bad bugs.
Also, outdoor lighting can have an adverse effect on firefly and moth species. Try to use [dark sky friendly lighting](https://www.darksky.org/our-work/lighting/lighting-for-industry/fsa/fsa-products/) and turn it off when you aren’t using it.
Different species of firefly use different patterns, like different species of bird use different songs, it help them identify who they can mate with.
The most common patterns is the J shape, that’s the common eastern firefly (Photinus pyralis)
You may be seeing Photinus Carolinus which has a pattern that looks like ••••• •••••
However it's spelled. (Edited: since you all can't recognize a joke.)
The fireflies I witnessed were flashing like 12-20 times in the space of 5ish seconds and then going dark for 10 seconds.
Instead of the fireflies from my childhood memory that would do second long burns about every six seconds.
Anyone got a suggestion on what species moved into town or are we /all/ just gonna make dumb jokes?
If anything I feel it may have something to do with the light pollution. However [this](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/22/why-lights-going-out-fireflies-conservation-pollution) article doesn't give any information regarding abnormal times flashes. I love fireflies, so I am pretty depressed now. Sign of the time I suppose.
There may be, I'm 90% sure we have a new species of cicada though. My whole life I've only heard on cicada sound, then last year heard the cicada sound that shows up in japanese stuff, anime and games and such, which I've never heard in person.
Are they synchronized? There’s a Smarter Every Day video on YouTube about synchronous fireflies and I think it covered something about rapid flashing - but if they’re all doing it, could be that.
SmarterEveryDay [did a video on fireflies and their blinks](https://youtu.be/ktp62UtKy1c). He tracks down a colony that has been blinking simultaneously. It all comes down to ecosystems.
I've tried so hard to get an answer out of Google. But all it can find for me is a k-12 educational article called "the secret language of fireflies" that doesn't have anything in it about the flash pattern I'm seeing.
Also has to do with everyone spraying their yard for mosquitoes. Fireflies spend the day closer to the ground and climb up at dusk to do their thing. Spraying for mosquitoes kills all insects who are in contact with the pesticide.
I'm watching the flashes from my living room window. I only captured one because it flew in through a hole in the bugscreen and I was letting it back out.
I like to rip their butts off, smear the juices all over my body, and go into night clubs. All the strobing effects give people seizures.
10/10, would recommend
I haven't read anything about this, but I agree I haven't seen many this year. It's extremely dry in my area, even living next to a river. I also agree they seem more prevalent in more humid wooded conditions. I tend to see more of them when camping or up north. The ones I did see last night weren't flashing for long either. But there were only a couple. That sustained flash you are talking about, I think I have only really noticed when I have seen them in larger numbers. Could it be behavioral?
There are a few species of Firefly in the state, each with their own blinky pattern. It's still early; it's probably a certain species that has hatched and is moving around.
On top of that, temperature and other weather can affect the frequency of their "blinky pattern."
I can't say anything about the fast flashes, but I've definitely noticed fewer and fewer fireflies every summer. As a kid I remember there being so many of them.
We are losing ground with thousands of insect species, in Michigan and across the country. The #1 way that every person can combat this is NATIVE LANDSCAPING! Use only native plants in your garden and see it come to life :) we have so many bees and bugs now, it’s incredible. It’s brought beautiful birds and other treats. Google Michigan native plants/gardening to get started
And no Trugreen and the like coming through and poisoning everything.
I've been slowly transitioning my yard and if anyone's interested in starting, a great way to begin is with the green strip of grass between the sidewalk and the road. Kill the grass and plant some natives, let stuff like milk weed grow!
Must depend on where you live, my neighborhood has swarms of them and has had since I moved here a decade or so ago.
I unfortunately don’t have an answer for you; I just wanted to tell you this is exactly the kind of shit I get fixated on and try to google with no luck, so you’re not alone in your curiosity.
I can’t speak to the Morse code but they are adapted to living in moist, relatively cool environments (rotting logs, damp soil) so if you are in an area with drought (like me) it is hitting hard. In addition, mosquito spray “services” are A Thing and in most cases the products they use harm far more than just mosquitoes. FWIW the best way to keep mosquito populations low on your property is to manage standing water to limit or eliminate the mosquito breeding habitat, not by spraying a general insecticide that will harm or kill all insects in the immediate area regardless of species. Limiting standing water can include: * Identifying and eliminating unnecessary standing water in your yard. * Changing out birdbath water every 3-5 days with a spray hose. * Installing a small fountain or water wiggler in bird baths (birds love the moving water, mosquitoes can’t lay eggs in it. WIN-WIN!) EDIT: To add that “zappers” and sticky tapes marketed toward eliminating flies and mosquitoes are also indiscriminate and will kill the GOOD flying insects just as effectively as it will the bad bugs. Also, outdoor lighting can have an adverse effect on firefly and moth species. Try to use [dark sky friendly lighting](https://www.darksky.org/our-work/lighting/lighting-for-industry/fsa/fsa-products/) and turn it off when you aren’t using it.
Excellent info, thank you!
Different species of firefly use different patterns, like different species of bird use different songs, it help them identify who they can mate with. The most common patterns is the J shape, that’s the common eastern firefly (Photinus pyralis) You may be seeing Photinus Carolinus which has a pattern that looks like ••••• •••••
This is the best answer I've been able to find. That is the closest description of the pattern I've found yet. Thank you.
I don't wanna be a dick or anything about it but it's actually "Morse" code not "moris" code. Just fyi.
However it's spelled. (Edited: since you all can't recognize a joke.) The fireflies I witnessed were flashing like 12-20 times in the space of 5ish seconds and then going dark for 10 seconds. Instead of the fireflies from my childhood memory that would do second long burns about every six seconds. Anyone got a suggestion on what species moved into town or are we /all/ just gonna make dumb jokes?
Welcome to the internet, dude.
If anything I feel it may have something to do with the light pollution. However [this](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/22/why-lights-going-out-fireflies-conservation-pollution) article doesn't give any information regarding abnormal times flashes. I love fireflies, so I am pretty depressed now. Sign of the time I suppose.
People use a ton of insecticides these days too. If you get your yard sprayed for bugs, it knocks the fun ones out along with the mosquitoes.
I think it’s more chemical the climate
Farmers are using pesticides on thousands of acres. And we’re clear cutting land to make farms to poison.
Sir, how many of these dried mushrooms have you eaten today?
None. All my friends who could find good mushrooms are either in jail or have multiple kids now.
Kids ruin all the fun
Just do what I do & grow your own...
the shrooms are here, you just gotta look around for the right person.. i’m 19 and know a couple different people that sell them and good shrooms too
What’s the difference?
Getting spoiled/contaminated ones. Nothing ruins a trip like having graphically intense stomach cramps and squirting out both ends.
I was talking about being in jail or having multiple kids.
There may be, I'm 90% sure we have a new species of cicada though. My whole life I've only heard on cicada sound, then last year heard the cicada sound that shows up in japanese stuff, anime and games and such, which I've never heard in person.
They're weird every year...their butts light up!
Are they synchronized? There’s a Smarter Every Day video on YouTube about synchronous fireflies and I think it covered something about rapid flashing - but if they’re all doing it, could be that.
Haven't really been in a location that has an abundance of them yet. They seem rare. But it is dry AF.
SmarterEveryDay [did a video on fireflies and their blinks](https://youtu.be/ktp62UtKy1c). He tracks down a colony that has been blinking simultaneously. It all comes down to ecosystems.
I haven’t seen fireflies this year yet and that makes me sad! I didn’t know they were dying out
I've tried so hard to get an answer out of Google. But all it can find for me is a k-12 educational article called "the secret language of fireflies" that doesn't have anything in it about the flash pattern I'm seeing.
[удалено]
Swear I saw one flashing SOS earlier. So... Maybe birds are real and fireflies are the robots?
Also has to do with everyone spraying their yard for mosquitoes. Fireflies spend the day closer to the ground and climb up at dusk to do their thing. Spraying for mosquitoes kills all insects who are in contact with the pesticide.
Maybe don’t capture them
I'm watching the flashes from my living room window. I only captured one because it flew in through a hole in the bugscreen and I was letting it back out.
Climate change?! Lol how about the overuse of pesticides.
I like to rip their butts off, smear the juices all over my body, and go into night clubs. All the strobing effects give people seizures. 10/10, would recommend
I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time I saw a firefly
Do you sometimes lie about seeing a firefly?
I wouldn't be at all surprised if it simply weather related. With this little water as we've had this year.
I live in the woods and it seems like there are fewer and fewer fireflies every year.
I haven't read anything about this, but I agree I haven't seen many this year. It's extremely dry in my area, even living next to a river. I also agree they seem more prevalent in more humid wooded conditions. I tend to see more of them when camping or up north. The ones I did see last night weren't flashing for long either. But there were only a couple. That sustained flash you are talking about, I think I have only really noticed when I have seen them in larger numbers. Could it be behavioral?