Insect populations are declining at an unprecedented rate.

Photographed just as it was taking flight, this female clearly shows its one pair of wings and the pair of hardened wing covers that identify fireflies as beetles, not flies. (Photo: Bryan E. Reynolds)

According to a Reuters investigation, “The most diverse group of organisms on the planet are in trouble, with recent research suggesting insect populations are declining at an unprecedented rate.” Read more HERE.

Light pollution, climate change, and loss of habitat are but three examples of human impact on insects. “Fireflies, also known as lightening bugs, may soon blink out. Fourteen of 128 firefly species - which make up a family within the beetle order - are threatened in the U.S. and Canada, according to the conservation group Xerces Society. Urban light pollution, thought to be partially responsible, can confuse fireflies, which rely on their own nightime bioluminescence to attract mates and repel predators.”