Can we save fireflies from extinction?

It's not easy counting fireflies. Across North America, there are an estimated 170 fireflies species, which are technically beetles in the order Coleoptera, but inventorying them is a challenge. While there have been some efforts to conduct a firefly census from nonprofit organizations like the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and various academic research centers, still proving how rapidly the firefly population has declined in recent decades has been a challenge.

While fireflies, or lightning bugs as they are commonly known, are considered to be a staple in the Northeast, it's also the region where many firefly species are most vulnerable to going extinct. Currently, there are no firefly species that are officially protected under the Endangered Species Act, though, assuming they need saving, there is a tiny glimmer of hope that might change and threats to fireflies would be recognized.

Some firefly species like the Bethany Beach firefly (Photuris bethaniensis) have gained recent awareness through a proposed emergency petition to allow this firefly species to be covered under the federal Endangered Species Act.