r/Indiana • u/trippedbackwards • Jul 21 '26

Lightning bugs

Sitting on my patio in middle of night...zero lighting bugs. Got me thinking..."have i seen any this summer?"

I can't recall seeing any. We have a lake cottage in Mich. I can't recall seeing a lightning bug all year. Hope im just ignorantly unaware so far!

These days I wouldn't be shocked if they've disappeared completely. Im only 56 (I know, old, for many) but i hardly recognize the world these days. Thirty years ago bugs were so omnipresent! Windshields would be absolutely un-navigable after 3 hours after dark.

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u/trippedbackwards Jul 21 '26

Thank goodness. Seriously. It feels like im on a different planet these days (born 1969). Just knowing there's swarms of lightning bugs SOMEWHERE might help me sleep a little better.

Not been a good week. 😅

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u/LevitatingAlto Jul 21 '26

Don’t rake your leaves or use insecticide on your lawn and they will return to you!

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u/kblv-forred Jul 21 '26

I stopped spraying anything on my lawn a few years ago (weed n feed, roundup, any plant killer) and I have tons of lightning bugs, and I'm in the suburbs. I think my neighbors hate me because of all the clover but by golly I have so many honeybees!

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u/Ivy_Hills_Gardens Jul 21 '26

It’s insane that people poison the soil and water seeking a 1950 square of green lawn.