If you live in the western part of the United States, you may wonder why you don't see the tell-tale illumination of fireflies twinkling in your yard. As it turns out, the species that flash to attract females generally only live east of Kansas. Western states do have fireflies and they provide the same benefits, but their glow is faint and only occurs while they are on the ground.

Fireflies don’t like overly manicured lawns because, during the day, adult fireflies hide in tall grass and shrubs to rest. Leaving some space unmown, or even planting tall grasses as part of your landscaping, will make your yard more attractive to fireflies, says Benison. "A short lawn won’t hurt fireflies, but it won’t bring them into your yard either," she says.

Leaf litter is home to many insects that lay their eggs or house their larvae. The same is true of fireflies. "Fireflies need leaf litter to get through the winter since that's where you’ll find their larvae," says Benison. This means that performing fall yard cleanup, like bagging up leaves, is among the biggest threats to fireflies. "An added benefit is that leaves act as a natural mulch and also provide habitat for some overwintering butterflies." If you don’t like the look of leaves all over your yard, choose at least one designated spot for leaf litter for your fireflies.

You don’t want the yard full of foot traffic of all kinds. "High-traffic areas can include where people walk, kids play, and pets run," says Burrows. "Too much of those activities will limit the natural growth of plants and grasses that attract fireflies."

This is the best way to support fireflies. "Even organic sprays that say they’re targeting mosquitoes will just end up killing whatever insects are in the area, including fireflies," says Benison. If it kills one insect, it kills them all. Instead, choose bug-repelling plants to naturally ward off mosquitoes, ticks, and other pests.

As they are native insects, fireflies have evolved to prefer native plants. This vegetation provides the insects with food and shelter. Native plants can also attract butterflies to your yard and make up a beautiful pollinator garden. "Choosing native plants benefits all the wildlife in your community, including fireflies," says Benison.

This can be challenging, especially if you’re in a city. But the fewer light sources, the better for fireflies, as they use their light shows to attract mates. If the insects compete with other lights, it will be hard for them to see each other, making it difficult for them to breed. Reduce the light pollution in your yard by using dimmers, motion sensors, timers, and shaded fixtures that minimize glare.

All wildlife, including fireflies, need water to survive. Adding even just a small water source can help bring fireflies to your yard. "These can be anything from a small plastic in-ground pond to a solar-powered birdbath," says Burrows.

If at all possible, introduce shady spots in your yard or garden—fireflies are happy in the shade. "This will also be where their larvae can find snails and slugs as a food source," says Burrows.

This last one can be difficult to follow, especially if holding a firefly in your hand has been a summer pastime since childhood. "Resist the urge to catch fireflies in a jar," says Benison. Catching fireflies even to release them can distract them from their attempts at finding a mate. Given the short amount of time most adult fireflies have to live, they have little time to waste.