As a little girl, I truly believed fireflies were fairies. On warm summer evenings, I’d sit in the garden watching their gentle glow drift through the dusk like tiny lanterns, convinced they wore petal gowns and spider-silk wings. I built them castles from flowers and bark and left crushed biscuits as offerings. Each morning, I would race outside with a pounding heart. And each morning, my fairy castle was empty. Not even a crumb in sight. Delighted, I’d run inside to tell my mum the news. My mother, who had the kindest eyes and the gentlest smile, would nod and listen. She never had the heart to tell me that it wasn’t fairies at all, but our greedy, lovable Staffordshire Terrier dog who was sneaking into the garden for a midnight snack.

And thank goodness for that. Because thanks to her, I never stopped believing in the magic of fireflies. Even now, as I sit here at Londolozi, years later, beneath an African sky, I watch them twist and twirl around me. Their glow still dances like fairies in the dark. The child in me still wonders. Still watches. Still believes.

You can imagine my shock when I recently learned that fireflies are disappearing. Over the past seven years working at Londolozi, I’ve noticed fewer and fewer of them lighting up the night. The little girl in me, who once believed they were fairies, had to find out why, and more importantly, how we could help stop them from vanishing.

Why They Glow

So lets start off by discussing why Fireflies glow. Fireflies (also called lightning bugs) are not just insects—they are artists of light.
Their glow is created through a process called bioluminescence, a rare chemical reaction. In their lower abdomen, oxygen combines with an enzyme called luciferase, along with luciferin, ATP (cell energy), and a few other helpers to create a cold, energy-efficient light—nearly 100% of the energy becomes visible glow.

But this isn’t just for show for us to appreciate.

Their flashing light is a language—a love song in Morse code. Each species has a unique rhythm, a pattern that helps males and females find each other in the dark. Some species glow in steady pulses. Others blink in bursts, or even twinkle like a heartbeat. Some larvae also glow from underground. A quiet warning,  I’m not tasty. Many fireflies contain chemicals that make them bitter or toxic to predators.

Why They Go

Despite their beauty, fireflies are quietly disappearing.
Across the world, populations are in decline. The reasons are many, and most are caused by us humans.

Habitat Loss

As forests turn to farmland, and wild meadows give way to concrete and manicured lawns, fireflies lose the habitats they need. Many firefly species are sensitive to moisture, leaf litter, and native plants—remove these, and they vanish.

Light Pollution

Artificial lights—from street lamps, houses, and cars—drown out the firefly’s delicate flashes. They rely on darkness to find mates. When the night is too bright, they can’t communicate, and the cycle of life breaks.

Pesticides and Pollution

Chemicals in the soil and water harm not only fireflies, but their larvae too. Firefly larvae often live in the soil for up to two years before emerging. Pesticides kill the insects they feed on or poison them directly.

Climate Change

Changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures affect the seasonal timing that fireflies rely on. Some species may emerge too early—or too late—to find mates.

What We Can Do

You don’t need to live in a forest to help fireflies. Even small actions can keep their glow alive:

• Turn off outdoor lights at night when possible. Let the darkness return.

• Avoid pesticides in gardens and yards.

• Leave some wildness—logs, leaves, and damp corners give fireflies a home.

• Protect wetlands and natural water sources.

• Plant native vegetation that supports the insects that firefly larvae feed on. Sometimes, even the simple act of leaving your lawn to grow wild. This will not only bring in fireflies but butterflies and bees too!

So the next time you find yourself beneath a starlit sky, take a moment. Look for that tiny glimmer, drifting through the dark like a floating wish. And if you’re lucky enough to spot one, know that you’re witnessing a little miracle. One worth protecting. Perhaps the magic of fireflies isn’t just in their glow, but in how they remind us to believe, to wonder, and to care a little more deeply for the world around us.