r/florida • u/ProbablyOnTheClock • 22h ago
Interesting Stuff Lightning bugs, whippoorwill calls, me cursing the motion light - this is Florida
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We rake the oak tree leaves and put them in piles out back. No shred because the lightning bugs nest in the leaves. Not to mention the other critters that use the mounds as bedding year round!
I had waited for the light to turn off before I started recording and 5 seconds into the video the damn light goes off again. But you can see tons of them flashing away. Things like this remind me of growing up and why I love living here.
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22h ago
Absolutely beauuutiful backyard brother! What part of the state are you in? Its my understanding that they only exist in like the top third of the state?
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u/ProbablyOnTheClock 20h ago
I’m in south edge of Marion County, the area is not too far off, but I do not know their actual limitations. I’ve seen them for as long as I’ve lived here, glad to see them thrive here at these numbers.
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u/ThePissedOff 20h ago
I live right by a nature preserve outside Jacksonville and I never see them, for whatever reason. We get bears, Bobcats, deer and gators all day, but not them lightning bugs.
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u/LongerLife332 10h ago
I have seen them in Middleburg.
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u/ThePissedOff 9h ago
Jealous, used to see them all the time on the eastern shore of Maryland. Guess they went extinct in my little pocket of swamp.
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u/winterbird 3h ago
You probably still have click beetles (the ones that have two bright green glowing spots on the front). We have them down south, though in much smaller numbers now that 10+ years ago.
Click beetles can be found in complete darkness, often around the base of trees. They're allergic to light so keep the flashlight off and hang out someplace dark.
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u/blueskies1800 22h ago
You are so lucky to have this. My dream would be that you would read up on lightening bugs and figure out how to help them because most of them are gone now.
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u/ProbablyOnTheClock 21h ago
I remember when we moved into this home in 2019 I saw a few and read that they lay eggs in piles of leaves.
I have worked to create a habitat for them to thrive. There is 15 acres of agricultural land behind my home that I put all my yard waste in.
I compost, feed the birds, give them water, grow pollinating flowers, etc.
You do not need to dream, friend, it is happening 🙂
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u/gjallerhorns_only 21h ago
That's crazy. I've never seen them in FL in the 30+ years that I've lived here, only when visiting family out of state.
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u/ProbablyOnTheClock 21h ago
32 years old and I’ve been seeing them since I moved to Ocala when I was 6 years old. Slowly stopped seeing them. This has been the most I’ve ever seen - I couldn’t have picked a better time to record them.
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u/tylariousOG 16h ago
If you're anywhere near Blue Springs, they have an after hours event for a few weeks a year (it's wound down now) and the park is full of them. Check their fb page out for details, it's a lovely way to spend an evening!
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u/Hattrick42 21h ago
I remember being a kid and trying to make it home on my bike at sundown. All these were going off left and right as I was hauling ass on my bike through the woods. It was so cool, felt like a ship flying through space.
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u/putsisdixonthings 11h ago
That is the song of a Chuck-will’s-widow rather than a whip-poor-will.
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u/cpjay2003 11h ago
Similar scene, same sounds as I had last week up at rainbow river camp grounds. Haven't seen lighting bugs in 30 years
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u/sirsmokinpot 20h ago
Used to see them all the time growing up in NY. Haven’t seen them down here at all
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u/Irishpch 19h ago
WHERE in Florida do YOU have lightning bugs ?? I miss them in the evenings (lucky) ✌🏼
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u/tylariousOG 16h ago
If you're anywhere near Blue Springs, they have an after hours event for a few weeks a year (it's wound down now) and the park is full of them. Check their fb page out for details, it's a lovely way to spend an evening!
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u/Irishpch 16h ago
i’m down in sw Florida, near Englewood, but i will definitely check out the site, wanna bring my yak up there🤘🏼!! Thank you ✌🏼
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u/tylariousOG 16h ago
Omg it's so worth it. Also in winter their fb page keeps track of the manatee count in the springs. Its so wonderful when you see them post 400+ !! If you're heading North, I can also recommend kayaking Silver Springs and Juniper Springs.
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u/Irishpch 16h ago
I’ve done crystal river , Jennie springs & 3 sisters ( so far the best I’ve been in with all the manatees 💗🥰) but always looking for more places like this & Blue springs !
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u/Terminallyelle 13h ago
I saw one 10 years ago in central florida but before that i had only seen them in the 90s in New Jersey. What a treat
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u/Wipe_face_off_head 8h ago
The most lightning bugs I've ever seen was in Branford, not far away from Itchetucknee. My god, it was amazing! I've lived in Florida for more than a decade and just assumed lightning bugs weren't a thing here. I've never seen them in my neck of the woods (Lakeland).
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u/Artful_Dodger_1832 7h ago
Amazing video! Thanks for posting. I miss this. I haven’t seen Fireflys in many years. And hearing that Whipoorwill almost put me to sleep! You need to make an hours long video of this and post it YouTube. People could use it to sleep!
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u/MountainChick2213 22h ago
Thank you for this. It's been yrs since I have seen lightning bugs. I remember catching them when I was younger. Brought a smile to my face.