So I'm going to Ohio in mid June... I've only been to Ohio one other time in my life and that is the most East I've been to. (pretty sad I know). In fact I started freaking out (in a happy way) when I saw a cardinal for the first time (other than zoos)
I've always wanted to see a firefly... is there a possibility of me seeing one in June? Where do they like to hang out..etc.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Look for them in the evening, at dusk. Go catch some, inna mason jar with holes loked in the top so they don;t die. Don;t keep them long, just long enough to see them up close.
I loved lightning bugs as a kid, and I still like to see them when I can.
Good luck with that!
Kwea
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
Ooh, I love fireflies. Not sure when they actually start, since I grew up in Texas. If you step out of the house around dusk, just when dusk starts, I think, just stare around grassy areas and bushes. If you do this for a couple minutes you should start seeing the yellow golden flashes of light if any fireflies are around. It is a way for fireflies to find mates, so June sounds about right...
Posted by Boris (Member # 6935) on :
They normally start popping up near the middle of may to the middle of June. At least, as far as I remember.
Posted by porcelain girl (Member # 1080) on :
oh man. i grew up in north carolina and virginia, but spent most of my youth in virginia beach. i loved summer because every night we stayed out late and there were lightning bugs everwhere. they are one of the only bugs i can stand touching. my friend lived out in the boonies and the woods behind his house would light all up like music. music, or a ufo landing.
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
Hey Porce, I grew up in NC, (KY), and VA, and spent my teens in Norfolk. (small world).
I was taking some LDS Missionaries on their rounds one evening when I was about 17 or so. As we were crossing a lawn, one of the Elders jumped about 3 feet in the air swatting at something and screaming "Oh my Heck! What was THAT?" I looked down at the ground and saw a little green >wink<.
"What, the firefly?" I asked.
"Very funny," he said.
"Huh?"
"Don't make jokes. What is that?"
"A firefly, Elder. Really."
<sheepish look> "Really? I thought those were only in cartoons."
Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
Lightning bugs! I love them! Where do you live Unicornwhisperer? Hard to imagine people not ever seeing them. I'm in Michigan, but my family owns an old farm in Ohio that we hang out at during the summer... and dude, the lightning bugs are out in full force in the country. I remember a sea of them out in the field one night.
Lightning bugs are hyper friendly...and it's cool to watch them take off. You catch one and it walks around a little and opens it's wings for a second or two before taking off. So cute. Sweat bees are cute too. They come by on hot days and gently lap up your sweat for the salt.
[ April 26, 2005, 06:14 AM: Message edited by: Telperion the Silver ]
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Aren't fireflies actually different species in different parts of the country?
Posted by HesterGray (Member # 7384) on :
quote: In fact I started freaking out (in a happy way) when I saw a cardinal for the first time (other than zoos)
That's OK. I live in Ohio and I still freak out when I see a cardinal.
Where in Ohio are you going in June? I'll be in the Columbus area at that time.
I think if you go out around dusk or later, you will be in a prime position to see some fireflies. At the summer camp I work at, sometimes I'm walking by the woods at just the right time of night to see hundreds (thousands?) of fireflies lighting up the trees like twinkling stars. It's beautiful.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
I'm still trying to wrap my brain around someone never having seen a firefly. o_O
Of course, I just experienced someone never having heard a tree frog. This weekend we visited my sister and left her house around ten-ish at night. My sister lives in the same town where we grew up, and as soon as I stepped outside the house, I heard all the night sounds. Man, do I miss those. So I stood and listened.
Nathan looks at me. "What are you doing?"
"Listening."
"Someone's whistling! Can't you hear it?"
"Those are treefrogs."
"TREEFROGS?!"
Goodness.
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
When we get fireflies in Arkansas it's usually well into Summertime--so June sounds about right. They're so cool to watch, and when my little nieces and nephews come over I had an excuse to go out and catch 'em. Posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion (Member # 6473) on :
Ha, at least you are in the east. You want sad? As far east as I've ever been was Yuma, Arizona.
Posted by Rakeesh (Member # 2001) on :
Just saw some fireflies last night, actually:) I guess they come out earlier in Florida.
Posted by HesterGray (Member # 7384) on :
It's still too cold here for fireflies.
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
That *is* sad.
Posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion (Member # 6473) on :
I've never seen one of those earlier. But I bet you guys don't get stingrays...
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Well, no. But we do in the ocean in the summer.
And I've SEEN a stingray. Posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion (Member # 6473) on :
Well, what DO we get? We get dolphins.
Posted by Rakeesh (Member # 2001) on :
You ain't lived till you've stepped on a stingray or jumped into a jellyfish.
Posted by HesterGray (Member # 7384) on :
Are you kidding? I see stingrays all the time! They crawl all over the lawn and hide in the bushes. Posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion (Member # 6473) on :
I'm talking about stuff we get in the sea. The only things we get on land or air are really ordinary stuff that I'm sure you guys have. Lizards, cacti, mulberries, and sea gulls.
Posted by Vána (Member # 6593) on :
Cardinals in zoos? Seriously? Where? I just can't imagine that! Do they keep bluejays and robins in zoos, too? I'm so curious! I also really need to get my own copy of the Audubon guide. I obviously didn't pay enough attention to ranges as a child.
[ April 26, 2005, 10:19 AM: Message edited by: Vána ]
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
quote:You ain't lived till you've stepped on a stingray or jumped into a jellyfish
.
Done both. Posted by HesterGray (Member # 7384) on :
How does one jump into a jellyfish? Don't you see it floating there before you start your flying leap?
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Most times? Nope. Man, when I lived in Key West, after it rained, there would be THOUSANDS of tiny jellyfish in the main canal. Filled. All you could see were jellyfish. It was absolutely amazing.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I saw fireflies for the first time in Michigan. There just aren't any in the west - never saw them before. I knew they were real, but it was still quite a sight.
Course, the people in the East have never actually seen mountains, so it evens out. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
What are the Catskills, Katie?
I remember fireflies from summers in NJ and NY when I was a kid, but we don't have them out here. And I recall another species of lightning-bug altogether from a summer some-where-or-other in Europe.
Treefrogs I remember from summer camp in the Catskills. I loved those little critters -- salamanders too. So I was the designated critter-catcher when someone found 'em in their shoes in the morning (happened more than once, and once generally heralded by screams).
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
quote:What are the Catskills, Katie?
*shakes head sadly* Foothills.
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
Hey, just 'cause our mountains are a billion years older than yours doesn't mean they ain't mountains. They're just a little shrunken, what with all that rain and plant life wearing them down. Posted by unicornwhisperer (Member # 294) on :
Wow! I didn't know this thread took off!
Thank you for all of you who gave me advice about lightening bugs. I'm in WA. state all we see here are trees,finches,some mountains and blue herons and a couple butterflies but you see them everywhere. Oh and we can see jelly fishes in the ocean.. they are quite beautful yes but I've seen some that looked scary...
Porcelain, your childhood sounded awesome. I sure hope I see a lightening bug when I go to Sandusky Ohio this June. I have to leave my toddler with my mom for almost a week... I don't know if I can handle it...
[ May 04, 2005, 09:20 PM: Message edited by: unicornwhisperer ]
Posted by HesterGray (Member # 7384) on :
quote: ...when I go to Sandusky Ohio this June.
You will visit Cedar Point, right?! It's a fun, fun place if you like roller coasters.
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
Wow, never seen lightning bugs. Never heard peepers. This is deprivation people!
Best ever are those summer nights when the frogs are wicked loud and sound like a choir, and you see fireflies everywhere like little shooting stars. mmm summer. I can't wait.
Posted by unicornwhisperer (Member # 294) on :
Hestergray, you are correct. I've been there once before... I just wish the Melenium Force didn't make me black out for 3 seconds after the 1st hill. Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
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