Forget the patio furniture. Ignore the perfectly striped lawn for a minute. The real headliners of an Indiana summer don’t arrive in a delivery truck. They simply blink into existence after sunset.
Fireflies.
They’re nature’s version of landscape lighting—except they don’t require wiring, electricity, or a visit from your contractor.
Indiana Has a Celebrity Insect (Really.)
Most Hoosiers don’t realize Indiana has an official state insect, and thankfully, it isn’t a mosquito.
That honor belongs to Say’s Firefly (Pyractomena angulata), named Indiana’s official state insect in 2018 after years of persistence from a group of elementary school students who thought our state deserved a glowing mascot. Talk about making your homework count!
The firefly is named after Thomas Say, the Father of American Entomology, who lived in New Harmony and first described the species nearly 200 years ago.
Every Firefly Has Its Own Signature
If you think all fireflies look the same, think again. Indiana is home to more than 40 different species of fireflies, and each one has its own flash pattern. That’s how they find one another on warm summer nights. Say’s Firefly isn’t the dramatic type. Instead of long glowing flashes, it fires off a rapid burst of amber light—about 8 to 12 quick flickers in a single second—before pausing and doing it all over again.
Nature had synchronized light shows figured out long before drones.
Want More Fireflies in Your Yard?
Here’s the surprising part. Creating a yard that’s friendly to fireflies doesn’t mean letting everything grow wild. It simply means leaving a little room for nature to do what it does best.
A few easy changes can make a big difference.
- Leave some leaf litter in out-of-the-way areas. Firefly larvae spend most of their lives hiding beneath it.
- Turn down the outdoor lighting during peak summer evenings. Fireflies can’t impress each other if your floodlights steal the show.
- Skip broad-spectrum pesticides whenever you can. Fireflies are good bugs, too.
- Plant native perennials, ornamental grasses, shrubs, and trees that support a healthy ecosystem.
- If you have the space, a rain garden or woodland edge creates an ideal firefly habitat.
Ironically, the less we try to “perfect” every square foot of our landscapes, the more magical they become. That may sound a little counterintuitive coming from a landscaping company, but we’ve always believed the best landscapes work with nature, not against it.
The Best Landscape Feature Isn’t Something You Buy
We spend plenty of time talking about patios, gardens, outdoor kitchens, and curb appeal. They’re all worth investing in, but some of the best moments outside can’t be designed, installed, or ordered online. They’re the ones where conversation slows down. The air cools. Someone reaches for another drink. And tiny amber lights begin drifting across the yard.
No app.
No subscription.
No upgrade required.
Just another reminder that sometimes the best landscape feature is one nature adds all by itself.
Tonight’s assignment: Pour your favorite drink, turn off the porch lights for fifteen minutes before you start up the firepit, and see if Indiana’s state insect decides to put on a private show just for you.