Summer Tradition! What is the precious environment where you can see fireflies?
Fireflies, a summer tradition in Japan.
Recently, places where you can enjoy watching fireflies have become limited, making it difficult to see them.
What kind of environment is suitable for seeing fireflies?
Fireflies are
in what kind of environment seen?
Fireflies are rarely seen in urban centers, but globally, it is said that about 2,000 species live mainly in tropical regions, and in Japan, about 50 species of fireflies inhabit. The ones commonly known nationwide are the "Heike firefly" and the "Genji firefly," and some people may have heard their names. Such fireflies are delicate creatures and only live in limited environments. So, what kind of environment do fireflies grow in?
Every year around June, female fireflies lay eggs, which hatch in about a month. After that, during the 9 to 10 months of the larval stage, they live in rivers. Therefore, one of the conditions is that the river has clean water and a gentle flow. Also, since fireflies feed on a type of freshwater snail called kawarina, it is important that kawarina inhabit the river. When fireflies transform from larvae to pupae, it is also crucial that the soil is good and suitable for fireflies, free from chemical fertilizers and other contaminants.
As such, since it is important that multiple conditions are met for fireflies to inhabit an area, various management activities are carried out in each region. For example, in some areas, efforts are made to create an environment where fireflies can thrive, such as securing flight space for adult fireflies, moderately cutting trees to increase the population of freshwater snails called kawarina, cleaning fallen leaves, and mowing grass.
Habitat of Fireflies
Recently, the number of fireflies has been declining due to factors such as the reduction of their food source, the freshwater snail called kawarina, caused by river pollution and pesticide use, damage from abnormal weather events like typhoons and heavy rains, and the lack of darkness in urban areas such as Tokyo. As a result, the habitats where fireflies can live have become limited, making them very precious creatures.
Additionally, the environment where fireflies can be seen is influenced by conditions such as climate, season, and time of day. Fireflies are best viewed from late May to late June during the rainy season, and since their lifespan is about one to two weeks, the viewing period is very limited. They prefer warm temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius and dimly lit places, so cloudy nights without moonlight are ideal. It is said that on rainy days, windy days, or cold days—when weather conditions are poor—they often do not appear.
Fireflies emit light while flying around about twice, with the best viewing times considered to be from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM for the first time, and from 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM for the second time.
Firefly viewing available
What are the spots in Kanto?
Although spots where you can view fireflies are limited, one of the places where you can see them in the Kanto region is "Mobility Resort Motegi" located in Motegi Town, Haga District, Tochigi Prefecture.
Here, you can enjoy a variety of experiences for the whole family, including motorsports and a "Park" with athletic activities that children can enjoy.
Activities that allow for nature experiences
Among them, at Hello Woods, where you can enjoy nature experiences, professional staff carefully manage the area, creating a safe and secure environment to enjoy. At Hello Woods, there is an activity called the "Night Satoyama Experience Firefly Viewing Tour."
In this activity, participants gather at Hello Woods at 5:30 PM and, over the course of three and a half hours until 9:00 PM, enjoy searching for creatures in the rice fields while it is still light. Afterwards, they can observe fireflies in the rice fields within Hello Woods. Since knowledgeable staff provide explanations about the fireflies, participants can learn in detail about their ecology while observing them. Additionally, it is possible to observe other creatures living in the rice fields as well.
At Hello Woods, where the environment is well-maintained for fireflies to appear, there are also many other nature experience activities available, so if you are interested, please be sure to look into them.
Fireflies prefer clean places and can only live under limited conditions.
Therefore, it is necessary to protect the environment where fireflies can live.
To be able to enjoy firefly viewing forever, it would be great to savor this summer tradition while being mindful not to threaten the environment that fireflies prefer.
