How to Catch a Firefly

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: February 10, 2020 Approved

Catching fireflies is a classic way to spend a summer night. Fireflies are beautiful, and it can be tempting to have one of your own. If you're patient, gentle, and persistent, you'll be a professional firefly catcher in no time.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Finding Fireflies

1
Search in the right places for fireflies. Fireflies live in various habitats, including forests and rivers. They tend to be drawn to high grass and humid, damp areas. They are found all over the world, from the Americas to Europe and Asia. In the United States, fireflies are rarely found west of the Rocky Mountains. They are commonly found down south, in the Midwest, and on the East Coast.^{[1]
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2
Look for fireflies at the right time. Warm summer evenings are often the best time to catch fireflies – typically between June and September. Fireflies tend to come out at dusk when it is still warm out. Most fireflies are typically found in the country or in the suburbs.
- As the night gets later, the air tends to cool off and some fireflies will stop flashing.
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3
Use your own light to attract fireflies. Since fireflies communicate using their light, you can sometimes attract them by using a flashlight of your own. Pay attention to the light patterns that the fireflies are emitting, and copy them by switching your flashlight on and off.
- Consider placing a blue piece of paper over your flashlight to turn the light blue. Scientists have found that fireflies respond better to blue light than regular lights.^{[2]
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4
Turn off your outdoor lights. Since they rely on their light patterns for mating, fireflies are more attracted to darkness. Turn off your outdoor lighting, such as porch lights and walkway lights, to draw in more fireflies.
5
Remain quiet and calm. Like most animals and insects, fireflies are easily scared by loud noises and sudden movements. When catching fireflies, make sure to move slowly and quietly. The more relaxed you are, the more relaxed the fireflies will be around you.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Catching Fireflies

1
Catch fireflies with your hands. As long as you approach fireflies slowly, they should maintain a calm and graceful flying path – this will make them fairly easy to catch. Once you are close enough to a firefly, calmly reach out with both hands, and try to cup the firefly between your hands. The outsides of your hands should be tightly cupped together when you catch the firefly, but leave enough space between your palms so that you do not crush it.
- This may take a few tries. Don't get annoyed or overwhelmed, just keep trying. Stay calm and relaxed.
2
Use a net to catch fireflies. You can purchase nets at most home supply stores, or make your own out of a small netting. To catch fireflies with a net, simply flow the net around a firefly inhabited area until you catch one. Keep your movements slow and gentle so that you do not scare or harm the fireflies.^{[3]
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3
Catch fireflies with a mason jar. Most people end up putting their caught fireflies into mason jars, so skip a step by catching your fireflies in a mason jar. Move slowly and calmly as you move your mason jar through the air to catch fireflies. Once a firefly has flown into the opening of your jar, place the lid on top to keep the firefly inside.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Keeping the Fireflies

1
Keep your fireflies in a glass jar. If you plan on keeping the fireflies that you have caught, put them in a glass jar so that you can see their light. Mason jars are popular jars to store fireflies is. Do not poke any holes in the jar, as this could dry out the air and possibly cause the firefly to get injured while trying to escape. Remember that fireflies like humid, damp spaces.^{[4]
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- Only keep a few fireflies in a jar at the same time. This will give the fireflies some room to fly around.
2
Create a habitat in your jar for the fireflies. Creating a habitat in the jar will help keep the fireflies alive and happy. Put a small piece of apple and a small handful of fresh grass in the jar. The apple will help keep the air in the jar moist, and the grass will give them something to climb on, eat, and hide in.^{[5]
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3
Release the fireflies after a short period of time. Although it can be tempting to keep fireflies for a long time, it's best to let them grafter a short while. Ideally, you should let fireflies go before bed. If you keep them overnight, be sure to release them the following morning. They need to be in their natural habitat in order to survive, and keeping them in a jar for longer than a day can cause them to die.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I make them glow?

Community Answer

They glow on their own, but you could catch them in a jar or in your hands and watch them glow.
Question

I kept mine in a jar for a day and a night, and the second night they never glowed. Why?

Community Answer

Because they're suffocating, starving and thirsty. You should add flowers, drops of water, and tiny air holes in their home.
Question

How do fireflies make light?

Community Answer

Light production in fireflies is due to a type of chemical reaction called bioluminescence. This process occurs in specialized light-emitting organs, usually on a firefly's lower abdomen. The enzyme luciferase acts on the luciferin, in the presence of magnesium ions, ATP, and oxygen to produce light.