STAR LEE FARM

05/21/2026

05/19/2026

Firefly emergence tracker — third week of May.

The first flashes of the season are appearing in the deep South. The wave moves north over the next several weeks, reaching the mid-Atlantic and Northeast by mid-June to early July depending on latitude and overnight temperatures 🌿

Right now, in most of the eastern US, the fireflies are still underground — either pupating or finishing their larval stage in the top layer of soil and leaf litter. The timing of emergence depends on when the soil warms enough to trigger the final transformation.

🌱 Where the wave stands:

- Southern states — adults already flying and flashing in warm, humid evenings
- Mid-Atlantic — pupation underway in the soil. Emergence in a few weeks
- Northeast — still in larval stage. Emergence depends on soil temperature reaching the threshold, which varies by how warm May has been

☀️ What determines when you see them:

- Latitude — southern yards flash first, northern yards last
- Soil temperature — warm soil speeds up pupation. A warm, wet May means earlier emergence
- Rainfall — moist soil improves survival through the pupal stage
- Lawn chemicals — granular pesticides applied in April and May reach the pupal layer directly. This is the window where the most damage happens

🌿 How to prepare:

- Stop granular lawn pesticide in areas where fireflies appeared last summer — the pupae are in that exact soil right now
- Leave a section of leaf litter undisturbed along garden edges and fence lines. The pupae are in it
- Reduce outdoor lighting after dark once flashing begins — artificial light interferes with the flash patterns they use to find each other
- Best viewing is in the first hour after sunset, on humid evenings, near field edges or unmowed strips. Sit still and let your eyes adjust

The wave is moving north. Your latitude sets the timeline 🌿

05/19/2026

05/18/2026

🐝🌤️ “If bees stay at home, rain will soon come; if they fly away, fine will be the day.”

For centuries, beekeepers and farmers looked to the bees for clues about the weather. When the skies are fair and the air is calm, the bees head out in force — dancing through the sunshine and hard at work. 🌼☀️

Do you still trust nature’s signsfor the forecast? 🌦️

05/02/2026

05/01/2026

It’s turtle saving season once again. 🐢 Too many found dead on the road. Slow Down! Be a hero and safely move them.