OT:::: lightning bugs/fireflies

[biking4health]

We have them in northern Illinois. We call them lightening bugs.

Carol

[corrine]

I grew up in California and they aren't there, but I moved to WV almost 7 years ago and now live in Maryland and see them all the time in the summer, but lacking the rain lately, they aren't as numerous as they have been. I love sitting outside and watching them. Seeing them in large numbers the first time at a wetland area, I began to believe the twinkling Christmas lights were designed by someone missing the twinkle of the fireflies!

[emily_in_nc]

We still have them in the central North Carolina countryside. However, they're all gone this late in the summer, as far as I know. They are mostly a June/July thing here. There aren't as many as when I was growing up, but they are still around. I love them because they remind me of my childhood. We call them lightning bugs here, not fireflies.

We also have tons of tree frogs and who knows what else making noise outside at night in the summer. We live in a forest and put in a small pond last year, which multiplied the noisemakers by a lot! There are nights when the tree frogs are mating by the pond after dark that I have to sleep with earplugs on (even though the windows are closed) since the pond is right below our master bedroom window!

Emily

[songlady]

They are definitely around here in western NY! On summer nights around my block you can catch them in your hands, they are that plentiful!

[salsabike]

We don't get them in the Northwest. I had them in both upstate NY and Michigan. I think they need warm humid summer nights. Fireflies and thunderstorms are the two things I miss the most.