"NEW YORK -- Fireflies are lighting up summer evenings across the U.S. Northeast, putting on dazzling shows in backyards and city parks.

There's no official count, but experts say a particularly wet spring may have created the ideal conditions for young fireflies to grow into adults to set summer nights aglow.

Fireflies light the night everywhere: There are over 2,000 known species across the globe. They use their characteristic flashes to communicate and find the perfect mate.

In New York City, the lightning bugs are out in the five boroughs, sparkling once the sun goes down in places like Central Park and Prospect Park. The summer months are ideal to spot them as they start to dwindle throughout the month of August."

Adithi Ramakrishnan and Shelby Lum report for the Associated Press July 31, 2025. [2]