How to Find and Catch Fireflies

_Elsa_

Back at Tiffi’s house she is still searching for more information that she can share with her friends. Aha! This might be the best article yet!

‘While fireflies are fairly widespread in North America, they’re far more prevalent in the eastern part of the country. The closer you get to the Rocky Mountains, the rarer they get.

How to Find Fireflies - Fireflies love open areas near water and woods. They also gravitate toward darker areas with less light pollution, which is why it can be tough to find them in fragmented suburban yards or cities. Still, that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. If you live in a well-lit neighborhood and are striking out in the backyard, scout out your local or state parks. They’re usually dark enough at night to attract fireflies. If you’re still struggling to spot them, check the Firefly Watch Project map again and see if anybody in your area has reported a sighting.

Equipment to Catch Fireflies - The equipment needed to catch fireflies is pretty basic: A butterfly net and a Mason jar or another transparent container with a moist, crumpled-up paper towel at the bottom. Obviously, you also need a lid for the jar or container that allows air to pass through but prevents fireflies from escaping. A piece of cut-to-fit cardboard with some tiny holes poked through it ⏤ or a trimmed down paper plate ⏤ affixed with duct tape works well. Store-bought “bug houses” are another easier alternative.

How to Catch Fireflies - Catching lightning bugs is straightforward: Find an open area free of tripping hazards and turn off all the lights. After your eyes acclimate to the dark, you should start to see them blink. Gently swipe at the firefly with a butterfly net until you catch it, and then carefully transfer it into the jar with your hand ⏤ or better yet, coax it in without actually touching it.’ (Source)

Tiffi and Yeti make their phone calls telling everyone that they will be getting together Saturday evening to look for lightning bugs. Tiffi tells everyone to bring a mason jar and a butterfly net to catch them. She tells them that she will explain more about this when they get together. Everyone is excited because Tiffi has found more summer things for them to do. They don’t expect to be disappointed doing this too. Some of them want to meet for dinner and others will join them later on. 

Let’s continue - Firefly Facts to Wow the Kids

Start at the beginning – Tiffi learns all about lightning bugs