In 1985 while running through a mixed Oak and Redwood forest near Forestville at dusk I found and retrieved 2 rather dim-bulbed fireflies.
Welcome to the SDMB, dog.
This firefly article is a Straight Dope staff report by SDSTAFF Doug and not a Straight Dope column by Cecil Adams. Accordingly, I’ll move this thread to the Comments on Staff Reports forum.
A link to the column or staff report you’re commenting on is appreciated. Providing one can be as simple as pasting the URL into your post, being sure to leave a blank space on either side of it. Like so: Why aren’t there any fireflies in California? - The Straight Dope
Lower Klamath Refuge in Northern California. Time 12:00 Midnight, temperature 60, humidity 62.
Saw the first swarm of fireflies 30+ over a canal next to Tulelake. Just a happy observation.
If it’s not bioluminescent, it’s not a FIREfly… it’s just another damn beetle
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So is it only a FIREfly when it’s actively glowing, and JADB the rest of the time?
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No, if it has the ability to glow, even dimly, it’s a firefly. The original answer stated that not all fireflies have the capability of glowing - even if they are very closely related to the ones that can, not having the ability to glow makes the designation “firefly” somewhat silly.
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Fair enough.
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This is an incorrect statement from a biology standpoint, but I would agree that most laymen would look at such a bug and not call it a firefly.
The same thing happened to me. In 1985 while running through a mixed Oak and Redwood forest near Forestville at dusk I also found and retrieved 2 rather dim-bulbed fireflies. I know a lot of people who also say the same thing happened to them. In 1985.
I think fireflies are dimbulbs in general…
Is there a point to this statement? 
I’ve noticed the are very site-specific.
On the north side of Chicago I never see fireflies. 15 minutes away in Evanston, I visit friends and they are common.
So “California” covers a bit more territory than a firefly habitat.
Semi Hijack
My mother, sister, and niece all say that there are no fireflies in southern Florida. I tend to believe them. So, why are there no fireflies in the sunshine state?
I grew up not too far from Forestville, and I never saw a firefly in my life until I was in Ohio. It was a super exciting moment.
OTOH, I saw fireflies occasionally when I lived on the North Side of Chicago. Love 'em.
Having lived in Orlando from 1968 to 1992, I can tell you that Central Florida had fireflies during that time period. I now live in Bradenton, and have not seen any lately. I think that in Florida, you have to be further inland away from the sea breeze for the fireflies to gather.
I recall lots of fireflies in my neighborhood as a kid, in Arkansas. Later in high school didn’t notice them as much. Can’t really check now - parents don’t live there anymore.
I’m wondering if spraying for mosquitoes played a role in the demise of the firefly. The column suggests that they live in the same habitat, and the pesticides shouldn’t be mosquito specific. The reduction in fireflies seems to correspond with the introduction of mosquito spraying, to my memory.
If it isn’t too much of a hijack…
The article states that the larvae eat snails, and this has surely been the year of the snail in Massachusetts. Does anyone know if it is possible to purchase firely larvae? Not a lot of luck in my search, so any help would be appreciated.