July 12 2023 - Fireflies are Out

 

The fireflies were out last night.  They were accompanied by a chorus of singing tree frogs.  The tree frogs have been singing since the spring, but I haven't seen one, even though there is one very close by in the weeping pussy willow tree. At least we can see the fireflies.  Little flashes of yellow or yellow streaks going by. Even Millie noticed them.  There are fireflies that are extraordinary in size compared to ours.  The size of your palm. That's a big beetle.  I expect it is from Australia, but National Geographic says Thailand.  Australia has its share - 25 of the 2,000 species are found in Australia.   I would expect a large net is needed to catch a firefly, as they are very fast. There are instructions on catching fireflies - Firefly Catching 101. This seems laughable - particularly the "scoop" instructions: Scout for the perfect spot Find a stationary female Gently scoop the firefly Let it do its thing Put it back when you are done We missed World Firefly Day - it was July 2nd.  Various varieties flow orange, yellow or green and firefly eggs glow as well.  Here's an old-fashioned cottage on King Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake.  I drove around the corner and the streets are filled with giant new-build houses in various 'heritage' designs. It was a bit shocking in comparison.   Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

June 15 2023 - Firefly Season

 

Bing's picture today is firefly motion blur in the smoky mountains.  It is beautiful.  That would mean that we are coming to firefly season.  Fireflies have four distinct stages - egg, larva, pupa and adult.  The life cycle typically takes two or three years.  They lay eggs in the autumn that grow into larva which remain underground for the winter (or under tree bark). The adults typically emerge in late spring or early summer. Typically we start to see fireflies when the weather is warm, so can expect them in July. To encourage fireflies here are the suggestions of the Canadian Wildlife Federation: Consider adding a water feature without fish. Include plenty of aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation to offer fireflies places to live and grow. Where possible, avoid cutting down trees on your property and include areas of tall grass and other vegetation, perhaps in the corner of your garden. Turning off as many lights as possible is thought to help fireflies communicate with one another. It also helps migrating birds who often collide with buildings, although typically high rises in cities are the bigger culprits. Many buildings, communities and homeowners are being more conscious about saving on their electricity bill as well as the impacts of light pollution. World Firefly Day is July 2nd.  I don't seem to have any photos of fireflies though I do remember trying.  It isn't surprising - they are fast.  Here are the lanterns in the garden from a few years ago.

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The Grass is Green ... Right Now

I found out that firefly larvae spend their first year underground.  As I looked out at the lawn where they would be sleeping right now, I noticed the grass in the front lawn is green.  Its blades are poking out of the snow, making a pretty show.  Why does grass stay green?  How does it do this? Generally we grow cool-season grasses - a mix of full sun and shade species.  These would be fescues, Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass.  We get a dense turf with a deep-green colour that's considered easy on the eyes.  I expect that it is Kentucky bluegrass that is staying green in winter.  I haven't found out how that works.  I would think if the grass is green that means it isn't dormant. I find out that our nitrogen fertilizers are not really plant food.  Plants make their own food through photosynthesis with the end products being carbohydrates.  That's what is used by plants for energy and growth.  Are our fertilizers harmful to firefly populations?  We know that chemical pesticides and weed killers are harmful.  Firefly larvae live underground, and they are carnivores.  So if they aren't killed by the pesticides, they are impacted by the poisons in their food.  It has also been observed that the harmful chemicals in pesticides are also found in chemical fertilizers.  So it is thought that even fertilizers are harmful.  So natural fertilizers would be the route to go for fireflies.  Where do fireflies live in the day?  On the ground, so frequent mowing would disturb the local firefly populations.  Fireflies prefer to live in long grasses, so having some will bring a boost in population. And of course, native trees are another plant habitat for fireflies.  Pine trees are considered important because they provide shade and low light areas.  They provide litter that is important.  And finally, a pond or stream is also crucial to firefly populations. Today's image of abstract stars was taken on January 1st in Niagara Falls at the greenhouse gardens.