| Fireflies face many of the same threats as birds. Habitat loss—especially of wetlands—is a major issue. Pesticides kill insect prey that both fireflies and birds rely on—and likely fireflies themselves. Light pollution, which can disorient nocturnal migratory birds and contribute to fatal building collisions, also disrupts fireflies’ ability to communicate. There’s little information on how these threats are affecting firefly populations, so researchers are turning to community science to fill the gaps. The Western Firefly Project, based out of Utah, has likened their discoveries to finding gold. |
