Fireflies or Lightning Bugs? Michigan Is Split

Summers in Michigan are full of magical experiences.

Things like roasting marshmallows around a bonfire, sipping a cold drink on the patio during a hot day, and taking a cool dip in one of Michigan's many lakes.

But one experience that is, perhaps, more magical in our childhood days is catching a particular summer-time bug: fireflies. Or, lightning bugs.

Courtesy of Photo by Tony Phan on Unsplash

That is the true question at hand today; What do you call this Michigan summer-time bug?

Fireflies vs Lightning Bugs

We all have those memories from when we were kids of using our hands to catch and cup a firefly or to trap one in a Mason jar.

Admittedly, I've caught myself calling these bioluminescent bugs both, fireflies and lightning bugs.

But what does Michigan at large think?

What Does Michigan Say—Firefly or Lightning Bug?

When it comes to whether we say 'fireflies' or 'lightning bugs', Business Insider has a map that shows who says what across the entire USA.

As it appears on the map, most of the southern and eastern states say 'lightning bug' and most of the western and northern states say 'firefly'.

Taking a closer look at Michigan on the map, the Mitten State seems to be a fairly even mix of both terms. But, the Upper Peninsula seems to be mostly 'fireflies, while the Lower Peninsula has a mix of about half and half.

Why Do Some Say ‘Fireflies’ and Others Say ‘Lightning Bugs’?

Meteorological researcher Jason Keeler said on Twitter it may have to do with something deeper than just a preference for one name or another.

The areas where people say 'lightning bugs' experience a lot of lightning. And along that same vein, the area of the country that says 'fireflies' experiences a lot of wildfires.

Just some food for thought, as we are still in firefly/lightning bug season in Michigan.

When to Spot Fireflies in Michigan

Fireflies like hot and humid weather, and we've had a bunch of that recently. So, you can expect fireflies to be in full force starting around dusk and becoming more active a little later on.

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Source: What Do Michiganders Call These Glowing Summer Bugs?

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