Firefly season begins in southwest Germany: best spots and tips to see the glow
From mid-June through July, fireflies light up meadows and woodlands across Baden-Württemberg. Conservationists share prime locations and viewing tips for the best chance to see the luminous display.
A seasonal spectacle
In Baden-Württemberg, the short but magical firefly season has begun. From mid-June through July, the small beetles illuminate dusk and nighttime landscapes with their bioluminescent signals. Conservation groups say that patience and the right conditions are key to witnessing the display, as the animals often appear only late at night.
When I think back to my youth, I saw them more often.
The glow is part of a mating ritual: flightless females sit in the grass and send out light signals to attract males. Shortly after mating, the beetles die, capping the brief luminous spectacle.
Where to find them
Katrin Fritzsch of the nature conservation association NABU points to several promising areas in the southwest. These include the Bärensee and various parks in Stuttgart, the region around Lake Federsee in the Biberach district, and areas near Freiburg and along the Rhine. She cautions that there is no guarantee of sightings, though.
You can theoretically find them in your own garden if you have a natural garden.
The German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) adds that lawns left partly unmown over the summer provide the tall grass the insects need as a retreat.
Best times for viewing
According to NABU, a walk between 10 p.m. and midnight offers the best chances, particularly on warm, windless evenings. That is when the beetles are most active. BUND advises that in very dark spots, the faintly glowing larvae may also become visible.
In very dark places, you can sometimes see the faintly glowing larvae.
Daylight or early dusk hides the event entirely, so a late-evening outing is essential.
What hampers the lights
Artificial light is one of the main obstacles. A study published three years ago showed that illumination can disturb the animals and drown out their light signals. Chances of sightings drop sharply near settlements. Aside from light pollution, pesticides in agriculture and gardens take an additional toll, making the beetles rarer today than they were decades ago.
Fritzsch notes that fireflies have not vanished, but people must search more deliberately. BUND recommends avoiding garden lights and, in summer, not mowing the entire lawn, to give the insects a place of refuge and improve the odds of a spectacle at home.
