Were fireflies common in your country during your childhood? Are there still places you can see them? In Tirana they used to be everywhere during May, but they seem to have disappeared entirely…
Posted by Substratas@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 48 comments
Galaxy_NET@reddit
I have fireflies on my summer cottage, in early 90s, there was in my town too, but from around 20 years, there is no fireflies in towns anymore.
Count_of_Borsod@reddit
When I was little, I lived in a valley at the foot of the Bükk mountains, I have never seen it with my own eyes, but I heard that on the meadow at night there were fireflies
Ok_Profession_8471@reddit
You can still see them near river / stream in Lazarevac, Serbia, but not in such numbers as earlier
They are still abundant in the countryside.
Their population hasn't shrunk so much as they do not glow during mating season due to light polution.
Nikoschalkis1@reddit
I've never seen one!! I'm very jealous of you guys. They do exist in more wet places inside Greece like Kymi, where instead of fireflies they call them assfires!!!
EdliA@reddit
Yeah I was reminded of them while playing KCD2. Completely forgot they existed because you barely see them anymore.
Gold-Ad-2581@reddit
In my village there was one place, exactly one small forest next to my house. They still living there.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Which place in Poland? I’ve been to Poland more than 20 times.
Gold-Ad-2581@reddit
Beskid Żywiecki
Fluid-Hovercraft-93@reddit
Light pollution is the main issue for their disappearance.. when there is light in the evening they can't reproduce.
b0sanac@reddit
We used to catch them as kids they were everywhere.
Lothronion@reddit
I have seen them a couple times in the woods close to my grandfather's village and fields up in the forested mountains of Doris of Phocis, in Central Central Greece. Though it is quite rare, especially at the summer, when I usually go, to the point that the first time this happened I was feeling like it was some sort of a glitch in the Matrix.
Strong-Knee8828@reddit
Saw them last year in Serbia, in countrysides, but significantly less than 5-10 years ago
Cactus_Kebap@reddit
I've only seen them in Tennessee.
EmptyBrilliant6725@reddit
Lol just went for a smoke and seeing one right now. Have seen a few this week after years
casual_philosopher02@reddit
Memories unlocked.... In our village on the mountains as kids we'd see some and my grandpa would call them ass fires! Haven't seen one in ageeees though
Frank_cat@reddit
In the countryside yes, you can still see them. Not as much as in the past though.
Did you notice the windshield phenomenon?
lolzimcoolwow@reddit
Very interesting ,actually,when i go for a trip to the balkans my car becomes filled with all kinds of insects:the bumper the windshield,very quickly
In the western country where i live this definitely doesn’t happen as much anymore
The balkans definitely have a healthier nature
CapitalFair8431@reddit
There was a lot of them and we used to catch them as kids. Now? Dunno, too busy doom scrolling to look up
icancount192@reddit
Yes they have diminished significantly. Now you can only see them in very green and very wet places.
Mestintrela@reddit
In which area?
icancount192@reddit
I have seen them the last few years only in Lefkada and Athamanika Ori the last 10 years. This is their season too, from mid April to late May.
Mestintrela@reddit
And in the past when they were more widely distributed where had you seen then? We in the aegean islands have never had these even in the 90s. And when I lived in Thesally I also never heard of any area having them.
icancount192@reddit
In the Peloponnesse, particularly Arcadia. In Veroia, in Katerini particularly Pieria mountains and Olympus. In Pelion a lot of times.
Mestintrela@reddit
Great thanks. Mental note to look for fireflies if I visit Arcadia or Katerini.
icancount192@reddit
Sure - I still think your best bet is between April and May in Corfu or Lefkada
atzitzi@reddit
I've seen a firefly once in my life and that was in Arcadia. Magic!
Substratas@reddit (OP)
It’s so sad - they used to be everywhere!
Mestintrela@reddit
I have never seen a firefly in my life and where I grew up or later lived in Greece there never were. Maybe they are more up north
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Interesting! Could it perhaps be because you live in the drier parts of Greece?
Fileflies cannot live in dry climates & require a warm but moist environment - in Albania they were popping up in April & then disappearing in entirely in late May when the dry season started. In places like Germany & Poland, where the summers are damper, you can see them between June & July. 🥹✨
Mestintrela@reddit
We on the Aegean Islands typically dont have any rain from April/May to Octomber/November so yes but even in Crete which is wetter there arent. Maybe it requires even more rain.
Impressive_Pride7230@reddit
I have never seen fireflies in my life 🥺
kotarak69@reddit
They are almost non existent in Bulgaria now sadly
Ordinary-Active-7048@reddit
Same in Romania
Substratas@reddit (OP)
I don’t see them anymore in Albania, either. It’s really sad… 😔
Divisive_Ass@reddit
I was born in rural woodland. There was no industrial agriculture or pesticides. There is no obvious reason why they disappeared but disappeared they did.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Oh god, are they disappearing from rural areas too? 😭
magicman9410@reddit
I grew up in a small town/ big village in central Serbia, basically spent most my childhood on the very car-free street, in the fields, forests and around the creeks close to our neighborhood. I remember our summer nights being full of fireflies. I remember this as one of my favorite times of the year. I believe it was a much healthier and happier time in general.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
It truly was! 🥹✨
Responsible_Trick466@reddit
Nostalgji
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Shume!
https://i.redd.it/qe647bhd351h1.gif
MrDDD11@reddit
Only see them in the woods near my grandpa's cabin which is a decent distance away from any towns or cities.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
You are lucky! 🥹
MrDDD11@reddit
Yeah, some times me and my family go there to BBQ, and if it's summer at night you can see them near the forest and little stream. One of my favorite childhood memories was trying to replicate a cartoon where they were catching fire flies in jars, so me and my sisters tried it and I feel in the stream thinking I could jump over it and catch the fire flies in the air.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
https://i.redd.it/43ap8nuj151h1.gif
ThickCaterpillar9867@reddit
Xixëllonja
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Pooo! 🥹
Neigebleu@reddit
In Austria they have vanished too. Guess it has something to do with light pollution
Substratas@reddit (OP)
It’s really sad.