My son recently asked a thought-provoking question: "Mom, where have all the fireflies gone?" It struck me as wicked true, as this summer, I've barely caught a glimpse of these enchanting bugs. Thinking back, even last summer seemed to have fewer fireflies than usual.

Now I can't help but wonder, "Where have all of the fireflies gone?"

Fireflies to our family are light stars just above the grass. It's magic and whims,y and all the signs of summer at once.

Seeing them essentially disappearing is so sad for all of us.

What happened to all of the fireflies?

Apparently, the decline in firefly in Maine (as well as other places in the nation) has piqued the curiosity of many researchers. Apparently, there are several reasons why the firefly population is going down.

According to the Farmers' Almanac, 

1. Light Pollution

• Artificial light from buildings, streetlights, and cars can interrupt with the flashing patterns of the firefly because they use bioluminescence to communicate and mate. This makes it hard for them to reproduce.

2. Pesticide/Chemical Use

• The use of pesticides and chemicals for landscaping is directly harming the firefly, and is also impacting their sources of food because they're essentially poisoned.

3. Loss of Habitat from Development

• Fireflies need specific spots to complete their life cycles, but urbanization, development expansion, and deforestation have prevented them from settling into their natural habitats.

In addition to those factors, climate change, invasive species, and over-collection can all lead to the decline of the firefly.

There are efforts underway at trying to prevent the total extinction of these magical flies. Researchers are trying to restore the habitats, reduce the light pollution, and raise awareness about the importance of the firefly to our ecosystem.

Why are fireflies important to our ecosystem?

According to the American Museum of Natural History, fireflies play a vital role in pollinating and helping the ecosystem stay balanced.

They aren't just a beautiful lightening bug to marvel at with your kids, but they need protection for the sake of our natural environment.

Pass it along and try to reduce your chemical use and educate yourself on the importance of these magical creatures. Because one day soon, they could be gone.

I don't want to wake up and say "I remember when fireflies delighted us all" to my grandchildren.

Think about it.