This Firefly Flickers Green, And May Become The First Firefly Species Officially Listed As Endangered In The U.S.
Every June and July, the Bethany Beach firefly emerges along the shores of Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware.
It flickers with two distinct green flashes. The insect was first discovered in 1949 and was named after a coastal town in Delaware.
The firefly’s numbers are on a downward spiral due to rising sea levels and coastal development, threatening the existence of this rare creature.
Now, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced a new proposal to classify the Bethany Beach firefly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
The status would provide the insect with additional protections and bring more focus on conservation efforts for its habitat. It could be the first time that a firefly will be officially listed as endangered.
“Protecting Bethany Beach fireflies under the Endangered Species Act would be a tremendous step toward ensuring these little creatures don’t blink out,” said Jess Tyler, a scientist from the Center for Biological Diversity.
Bethany Beach fireflies live in swales, which are low-lying freshwater marsh areas located near coastal dunes.
These areas offer food and shelter for them. They face various threats, such as habitat degradation, light pollution, and flooding.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it is predicted that between 76 to 95 percent of swales may be lost to flooding by 2100. Storm surges from increasingly extreme weather could also submerge the firefly’s habitat.
fergregory – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual fireflies
Listing the firefly as endangered would draw more attention and resources to the troubles that plague it.
Conservationists can work together to preserve habitat quality and figure out how to tackle rising sea levels.
Fireflies are not the only insects in decline. Other species’ populations are dwindling as well, and the phenomenon has earned the name of the “insect apocalypse.”
Overall, about 40 percent of insect species are in decline. In North America, one in three firefly species may be at risk of extinction, per the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The Center for Biological Diversity and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation asked for federal protection for the Bethany Beach firefly in 2019.
Since then, a well-known habitat site for the insect has been lost to rapid coastal development, pushing the firefly further toward decline.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control found additional sites important to the species’ survival following the 2019 petition. Scientists now know that the firefly lives across 35 swales in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.
Aside from habitat destruction, fireflies and many other bugs are also threatened by light pollution. The glow of porch lights, street lamps, and other artificial lighting brightens up the night sky, which can throw fireflies into confusion since they use their own lanterns to communicate with each other and to find mates.
In addition to the Bethany Beach firefly, the Xerces Society has requested protection for four other firefly species.
If the proposal goes through, it could go a long way in safeguarding the Bethany Beach firefly’s habitat and other creatures within it.
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