Bethany Beach Firefly Proposed for Endangered Species Protection

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks to protect the rare firefly threatened by climate change, development, and light pollution.

The Bethany Beach firefly, found in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, faces extinction due to habitat loss and environmental threats.
Rising sea levels and lowering groundwater aquifers, driven by climate change, endanger the firefly's coastal habitats.
Light pollution from coastal development disrupts the firefly's bioluminescent communication essential for mating.
The firefly's unique double-green flash pattern distinguishes it from other species and has made it an iconic symbol of summer.
Public comments on the proposal to list the firefly under the Endangered Species Act will be accepted until December 2.