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Title: Backyard volunteers helping track firefly numbers Post by: Allhallowsday on September 06, 2010, 09:00:46 AM Backyard volunteers helping track firefly numbers
INDIANAPOLIS – The yellow-green streaks of fireflies that bring a magical air to summer nights, inspire camp songs and often end up in jars in children's bedrooms may be flickering out in the nation's backyards as suburban sprawl encroaches on their habitats. Scientists concerned by reports from the public that they are seeing fewer of the luminous insects each summer have turned to a network of backyard volunteers spanning much of the nation to track their range and numbers. Their observations may shed light on whether fireflies are indeed declining — a trend that could dwindle the targets for the childhood rite of passage of chasing fireflies. As this weekend marks summer's unofficial end in America, the Firefly Watch volunteers' work is winding down now that the insects' annual light show is over in all but southern states. Helen Mester of South Bend, Ind., is one of about 700 volunteers who entered observations this summer of firefly numbers, the color of their lights and flash patterns into the online database maintained by Firefly Watch, which is sponsored by the Boston Museum of Science. The 54-year-old retiree has counted fireflies for three years for the program from her living room window or her deck, watching the lights that lead males to females for mating... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100905/ap_on_re_us/us_fading_fireflies (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100905/ap_on_re_us/us_fading_fireflies) Title: Re: Backyard volunteers helping track firefly numbers Post by: 3mnkids on September 06, 2010, 10:39:00 AM I lived in FL for 20 years and saw 1 firefly. The stuff they use to kill mosquitoes kills them. They are everywhere up here and the little one goes out at dusk and tries to catch them. :smile:
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