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.
Overview
- 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.