Can i keep fireflies

The grass is for them to climb on and hide in. Every day, unscrew the jar lid and blow across the top of the jar. This keeps the air in the jar fresh. Don't put the jar in direct sunlight. You don't need to feed the fireflies. Most adults never eat. They did all their eating as larvae. But don't keep them in a jar for more than two or three days. Fireflies only live a few days or weeks and don't want to spend their whole lives in a jar. Hold your own firefly festival by taking the jar out into a field and letting the tiny creatures go.

Then watch them fill the air with dots of light. Already a subscriber? Monitor journalism changes lives because we open that too-small box that most people think they live in. We believe news can and should expand a sense of identity and possibility beyond narrow conventional expectations.

Your subscription to The Christian Science Monitor has expired. You can renew your subscription or continue to use the site without a subscription. If you have questions about your account, please contact customer service or call us at This message will appear once per week unless you renew or log out.

Skip to main content Skip to main menu Skip to search Skip to footer. Search for:. Fireflies are beautiful, and it can be tempting to have one of your own. If you're patient, gentle, and persistent, you'll be a professional firefly catcher in no time. To catch a firefly, cover a flashlight with a blue piece of paper and switch it on and off to attract nearby fireflies. Then, once a firefly gets close enough, catch it by carefully cupping it in your hands.

You can also use a net to catch fireflies, or you can use a mason jar with a lid. Once you've caught one, keep it in a glass jar without any holes in it, and put a small piece of apple and some grass in the jar so the firefly has food and moisture. Just make sure you release it within 1 day or the firefly could die.

To learn how to find fireflies, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy.

Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article methods. Related Articles. Article Summary. Method 1. Search in the right places for fireflies. Fireflies live in various habitats, including forests and rivers. They tend to be drawn to high grass and humid, damp areas.

They are found all over the world, from the Americas to Europe and Asia. In the United States, fireflies are rarely found west of the Rocky Mountains. They are commonly found down south, in the Midwest, and on the East Coast.

Look for fireflies at the right time. Warm summer evenings are often the best time to catch fireflies — typically between June and September. Fireflies tend to come out at dusk when it is still warm out.

Most fireflies are typically found in the country or in the suburbs. As the night gets later, the air tends to cool off and some fireflies will stop flashing. Use your own light to attract fireflies. Since fireflies communicate using their light, you can sometimes attract them by using a flashlight of your own.

Pay attention to the light patterns that the fireflies are emitting, and copy them by switching your flashlight on and off. Consider placing a blue piece of paper over your flashlight to turn the light blue. Scientists have found that fireflies respond better to blue light than regular lights.

Turn off your outdoor lights. Since they rely on their light patterns for mating, fireflies are more attracted to darkness. Turn off your outdoor lighting, such as porch lights and walkway lights, to draw in more fireflies.

Remain quiet and calm. Like most animals and insects, fireflies are easily scared by loud noises and sudden movements. When catching fireflies, make sure to move slowly and quietly. The more relaxed you are, the more relaxed the fireflies will be around you. Method 2. Catch fireflies with your hands. As long as you approach fireflies slowly, they should maintain a calm and graceful flying path — this will make them fairly easy to catch.

The paper towel maintains the moisture level in the jar and is something for the insects to attach to. They climb into the grass to hide.

Once a day, take the lid off the jar and gently blow across the top of the jar to freshen the air. Keep the jar in a place where it receives natural light but never place it in direct sunlight. While it's lovely to admire fireflies in a jar, you shouldn't keep them captive for more than two or three days. Fireflies have a short life span, so let them spend most of their days in the wild. Release your fireflies into a damp, vegetated area and pretend you're having your own firefly festival. You can do a lot to protect fireflies.

Give them lots of space to flash their lights and mate by turning outside lights off when they're not in use during the summer. Leave natural habitats alone. Don't take away rotting logs, which is a popular place for female fireflies to lay their eggs. Use only natural fertilizers in your garden and leave small areas of long grass on your lawn to give them places to mate. Claire is a writer and editor with 18 years' experience. She writes about science and health for a range of digital publications, including Reader's Digest, HealthCentral, Vice and Zocdoc.

TL;DR Too Long; Didn't Read Keep fireflies in a jar with a small piece of apple and a clump of fresh grass, removing the lid and blowing across the top of the jar once a day. What Eats Boxelder Bugs? What Is a Horned Frog?