Polish Fireflies

Do you get Fireflies in Poland and where is the best place to see them ?
We dont get them in Scotland and I think they are pretty cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly

Fireflies in Poland are known as Robaki świętojańskie.
There are 3 different species in Poland świeciuch (Phosphaenus hemipterus) iskrzyk (Phausis splendidula) and świetlik świętojański (Lampyris noctiluca)

I used to see fireflies a long time ago while i was on vacations, south of Poland, in August... and usually it was near a river....

Is there anywhere I would be guaranteed to see them ?
When would be the best time, late summer ?

If not Poland what about the states?

Thanks for any replies.

In Poland on a warm summer nights, you don’t have to be near a river but in the countryside with a lot of woods nearby.
In U.S. pretty much everywhere you can even see them in Chicago on a worm summer night.

i've never seen them in the us...
of course, it doesn't mean they aren't here...

Have you been to Chicago? When you sit in your yard at night and have a bbq going you will see them all over. If you go by the lake front or any park in the city you will see them.

yes, in April...

i guess, i need to go there one more time...

so why i haven't seen them in TX? maybe they don't live here...?

Never been to Texas myself but I’ve seen them in all northern states and even Florida so I’m sure you must have them in Texas.

yes, they live in TX...
fireflies in the US

We call them lightning bugs here

I've seen them in Cornwall but nowhere else.
Do they make good pets?

I have seen them in Brittany, I am looking for somewhere I would be guaranteed to see them. I have a five year old and I know he would be amazed to see them.

You put them in a jar and use them as a flashlight.

I was amazed when I saw them when I was twenty five.


But perhaps just a lantern. Batteries? No. Oil? No. Leaves? Probably. At least I don't think they're carnivorous.

Very. Don't stick your fingers in there, in a matter of seconds all the flesh will be gone. That's what gives them energy to shine. The more fingers they eat, the brighter they shine.

we use to smash them together and make glow paint

Chemical company in this area used to buy them by the jar. Smashed them up to discover how they made themselves glow. End result was the invention of those tubes that you can squish together and make them glow at night.

Different species flash at different rates as do males and females. Thus, they can find the right mate.

That's what we did as kids growing up in southern Tenn.
It was actually more fun to chase them, though :)
But we usually let them loose when we had to go inside for the night. :)

Once though, my little sister put some frogs in one of those toy purses that snap shut....and forgot it for a few days. Ewwwww!