Lightning Bugs

[lucky13]

Remember catching these glowing bugs and keeping them in a jar, after poking holes in the lid with an ice pick, only to wake up the next morning to be disappointed that they didn't make it through the night? Still, that didn't prevent you (me!) from doing the same thing again that night.

I'd noticed the last couple of summers that you'd be hard pressed to find many lightning bugs, let alone enough to keep one another company in a little jar. At least, that's how it seemed here in Illinois. But THIS summer...they are everywhere! It's kind of neat to see just how many are lighting up all over the place. Brings back those summertime memories.

I'm just curious--what happened? Why so few for a few years and now all of a sudden so many? Is it like this in other areas, or just here in the humid, sticky Midwest?

 

[dbuck]

Remember catching these glowing bugs and keeping them in a jar, after poking holes in the lid with an ice pick, only to wake up the next morning to be disappointed that they didn't make it through the night? Still, that didn't prevent you (me!) from doing the same thing again that night.

I'd noticed the last couple of summers that you'd be hard pressed to find many lightning bugs, let alone enough to keep one another company in a little jar. At least, that's how it seemed here in Illinois. But THIS summer...they are everywhere! It's kind of neat to see just how many are lighting up all over the place. Brings back those summertime memories.

I'm just curious--what happened? Why so few for a few years and now all of a sudden so many? Is it like this in other areas, or just here in the humid, sticky Midwest?

Lucky 13, it is so odd that you would pose this question. I have been wondering the same thing. For the last week our back yard has been just full of lightning bugs. My husband and I have even discussed in years past why there weren't lightning bugs flashing like when we were kids. Kinda reminds me of those little (and I mean tiny) frogs SJ posted a picture of last year. I haven't seen those since I was a kid.

 

[lucky13]

It's amazing how many are out this summer. I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed!

 

[Miss Kitty]

:clap_1: Lightning bugs and the sound of cicadas in the trees....SUMMER!

 

[amylouky]

There is more of every kind of wildlife, it seems to me. We've got a backyard full of lightning bugs already.. we hardly saw any last year.
Also, we went to the lake for Memorial Day, there were frogs, caterpillars, and turtles ALL OVER THE PLACE. We even had a baby deer (smaller than my sister's Weimaraner) run right through our clearing. I've been going to the same place for ~30 years, and have never seen a deer that close.
Mild winter, maybe?

 

[lucky13]

Maybe that's it, the mild winter, I really don't know and can't find anything about it. I'm not complaining, I do like to see them!

 

[L'il Pea #1]

hey sus!!!!!!!!!!!!
:clap_1:

 

[Cheering472]

There is more of every kind of wildlife, it seems to me. We've got a backyard full of lightning bugs already.. we hardly saw any last year.
Also, we went to the lake for Memorial Day, there were frogs, caterpillars, and turtles ALL OVER THE PLACE. We even had a baby deer (smaller than my sister's Weimaraner) run right through our clearing. I've been going to the same place for ~30 years, and have never seen a deer that close.
Mild winter, maybe?

Sorry...to get off topic...but I love Weimaraners. My friend has one that is so smart. We are constantly laughing at that big ol thing though. He loves to help bring in the plastic grocery bags form the car. But you have to watch him, he then likes to go through them looking for treats.

Now, what lake do you go to that you see all this wildlife?

 

[lucky13]

Hey!
Your hair cut looks good--I need to see it in person!

 

[amylouky]

Sorry...to get off topic...but I love Weimaraners. My friend has one that is so smart. We are constantly laughing at that big ol thing though. He loves to help bring in the plastic grocery bags form the car. But you have to watch him, he then likes to go through them looking for treats.

Now, what lake do you go to that you see all this wildlife?

Henry (sis's dog) isn't smart.. he's a dope. He's a big clumsy oaf, and he's adorable. She's Gracie's mom, too, btw.. no fair, she gets the cute kids AND dogs..

We went down to Rough River. We've been going camping down there since I was tiny. My dad bought about 7 acres of woods (in the middle of a BIG bunch of woods), and we've gone down there a few times a year pretty much all my life. Roughing it.. tent camping, no electricity or running water. It's not for everybody, but we love it.