What happened to all the fireflys?

[Texas Diesel]

Or lightning bugs as we call them. When I was a kid, we would catch dozens and put them in gallon pickle jars, now it's a good year if I see a dozen total.

 

[Bill Lins]

Or lightning bugs as we call them. When I was a kid, we would catch dozens and put them in gallon pickle jars, now it's a good year if I see a dozen total.

Same thing here. Overuse of pesticides by the farmers got 'em.

 

[Mike Ellis]

We had loads of them last year in our area (near Ft. Worth), they had been out in lesser numbers in previous years. They seem to do better when we have some decent rain, I remember chasing them around the park in Cleburne after baseball games as a kid - there would be thousands of them along the banks of the creek. Kids would smush them on their hands and the goop would make their hands glow - same stuff that is in those Cyalume light sticks



The numbers of animals ebbs and flows. Nowadays we hardly ever see armadillos around this area, used to be everywhere. The horny toads are gone. We seem to be way down on the number of snakes, too. But, we have had a bumper crop of hawks, and the bird population has made a major comeback. We even have several red-headed woodpeckers in the neighborhood now, guess that means the trees are eaten up with bugs but it is neat to see Woody Woodpecker flitting around and hammering away



Another interesting change from my childhood, is how big some of the dove get nowadays. There are few that roost in my neighbor's tree that look like PIGEONS they are so big Where's my shotgun??? :-laf

 

[4xquadrod]

Fireflys

I am from California and most of my family is from Alabama. When I was in my teens I went back to visit. I was sitting on the porch in the evening and saw these things off in the distance. I jumped up telling everyone there are aliens hiding out in the bushes. :-laf Dumb California kid I guess.

Steve

 

[rmrc]

Haven't seen fireflys in years! But just last year we had a few days where the entire neighborhood was loaded with Lady Bugs. They were every where!!! You couldn't open the door with out some of them getting into the house.

 

[DieselMinded]

LADY BUGS GALLORE HERE



I was told they relased them for the Turkeys But the ladybugs went out of control .



We still Have lightning bugs here in OHIO but Im pretty sure they fly south or something in the winter :>



It wont be long and maybe I can mail you a female and a male to you for your yard.



Just pay shiiping



Check the Pay it foward I will throw in a few lady bugs too all tho' I cant tell what sex they are the Male Lady bugs seem to have a Complex



... . Man its late

DM

 

[nickleinonen]

i haven't seen any fireflys for years... i kinda miss them. i remember going to my friends cottage and seeing them there, but the last time i went there, there was none of them...

... . Man its late

yeah, i've been up since a little past 09:00 yesterday morning. . gotta love working nights, and having days off during the week [today is my sunday ]

 

[rmrc]

I know what you mean about working the night shift. No one around to break your chops! You just do your job and the rest of the time is yours.



My only complaint at this job is when the day guy is late or doesn't show. They expect me to stay over. I have no problem comming in early but not staying late. This outfit is too cheap to hire two people for the day shift. No backup. I have a hard enough time keeping awake for the ride home on these rolling country roads,,,, that don't have any shoulders with drainage ditches. I've seen many a vehicle rolled over!