The secret to more #fireflies next summer may be hiding under fallen leaves A little less yard cleanup this fall could help fireflies months from now, since their larvae often spend winter in moist leaf litter and soil. By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist Published Oct 30, 2026 Excerpt: "Why fallen leaves matter to #LightningBugs "A layer of fallen leaves can serve as both shelter and part of the food web fireflies depend on. " 'Fireflies don't eat fallen leaves, but they do eat lots of critters that feed upon and live among fallen leaves: snails, earthworms, slugs and other soft-bodied invertebrates,' Richard Joyce, an endangered species conservation biologist at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, told AccuWeather. "Joyce added that leaves help maintain a moist environment, an important benefit because fireflies can dry out relatively easily. " 'The longer leaves stay on the ground, the better,' Joyce said." Read more: https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/the-secret-to-more-fireflies-next-summer-may-be-hiding-under-fallen-leaves/1953080#SolarPunkSunday #Biodiversity #LeaveTheLeaves #Nature