In many parts of the country, admiring fireflies flitting around with their flashing glow is a rite of summer for people of all ages, especially kids.

But there’s concern among some scientists and firefly lovers worldwide that firefly populations may be dwindling. I sure hope that’s not the case. Reasons given are loss of habitat and too much man-made light for them to interpret their flashes.

Their light shows aren’t pure whimsy for them — they need to be able to see the flashes of other lightning bugs because it’s an organized mating ritual crucial to their survival. Males fly around flashing light patterns unique to their species.

Females watch and wait from vegetation on or near the ground. When they see the right pattern that impresses them, they signal with their own light flash. The pair engages in a flash dialog which if successful, results in mating.

The Museum of Science, Boston has joined up with a group of researchers at Tufts University and Fitchburg State College to get a handle on lightning bug populations. Their idea is to collect field observations from people all over the earth. It’s easy to do. I’ve signed up at The Museum of Science.

Some simple steps we can all take to make it as easy as possible for fireflies to do their thing include not cutting our lawns super short since fireflies stay on the ground by day and prefer long grass, skipping pesticides and herbicides on our lawns and gardens, flipping off outside lights at night, and letting some logs and leaf litter remain in our yards because that’s prime firefly larvae habitat. Fireflies also prefer bodies of water like ponds, streams, and marshy areas. You might consider adding a water feature such as a small pond to your property.

I’m going to do all I can. I say, “Rock on fireflies!” I want my grand-kids and their children to know the delight that my family and I experience trying to catch a bug or two or simply watching the miniature lights wink at us in the night sky.