Fireflies will illuminate night sky at Arboretum event

Growing up in the Twin Cities, people’s backyards were often aflare each summer with flashes from the beloved winged creatures known as fireflies.

But viewing these flying dots of light has become increasingly rare. At least 18 species (14%) are threatened with extinction, according to a 2021 PLOS One journal review.

That’s what makes Firefly Viewing Nights at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska so special. For three weekends starting June 26, the Arboretum hosts this magical opportunity to see lightning bugs amid hundreds of acres of trees and flowers. The viewing nights run from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Choose your firefly adventure

Visitors can pick their own hiking path on the Arboretum grounds; we’ll let you know which one offers the best viewing each night. Locations include the Wildflower Garden, Three-Mile Walk, Farm at the Arb and Bog Boardwalk. Most routes are wheelchair accessible.

Starting at 8:30 p.m. each evening, people can learn from local experts, storytellers and Master Naturalists about these special glowing winged beetles and other night creatures. Speakers include storytellers from the Red Lake Nation and Black Storytellers Alliance, plus experts on bats, spiders, and a Raptor Center presentation. Some of the speakers will focus on fireflies.

Scientists cite numerous reasons why we are seeing fewer fireflies. These issues include habitat loss due to housing and commercial development, climate change, pesticide use, water pollution and light pollution. In fact, data collected by citizen scientists found that the night sky got nearly 10% brighter each year between 2011 and 2022.

This is important because many species of firefly communicate via these blinking patterns of light. Light is their courtship dance, their way to warn off predators and more. And as light pollution has grown, it’s become harder for fireflies to spot these critical flashes of mating brilliance above the ambient light. This is especially problematic given their short adult lifespan.

Take action

But there is hope that we can prevent fireflies from disappearing. There are a bunch of things we can do to help save these creatures in our own yards:

• Stop applying pesticides and lawn chemicals.
• Mow less.
• Switch to natural fertilizers.
• Don’t turn on outdoor lights in June or July.
• Leave some fallen branches and leaves as shelter. 
• Close your window shades at night.
• Grow native shrubs, grasses, trees and wildflowers.
• Create water features if you can.

We hope you’ll join us at the Arboretum for a Firefly Viewing Night. It’s a lovely way to reconnect with nature – and to rediscover your own childhood sense of wonder and awe.

Firefly Viewing Nights are 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. on June 26, 27 and 28 and July 3, 5, 6, 10, 11 and 12 at the Arboretum. Get tickets and view the speaker schedule.

Photographer Jason Boudreau-Landis is teaching a Special Access Class: Firefly Photography June 27, July 11 and July 12. 

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Editor’s note: Lynette Kalsnes is the public relations strategist at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. She is now thoroughly horrified by having captured lightning bugs in jars (with holes and food) as a child for even short periods of time.

Kalsnes’ column on happenings at the Arboretum will appear periodically on the Eden Prairie Local News website. Contact her at arbpr@umn.edu.