Firefly Season Is Peaking Across Missouri—Here’s Where to Go

When I was a kid growing up in Missouri, I called them lightning bugs, but that's just me. Others prefer fireflies, but no matter what name you use, the peak season for these brilliant insects is peaking across the state right now with some locations better than others.

Are you a firefly or lightning bug person?

Based on observed reports, here are the places in Missouri that are seeing the most firefly/lightning bug activity right now:

1. The Ozark National Scenic Riverways
2. Mark Twain National Forest
3. Missouri State Parks With Lakes and Wetlands
4. Forest Creek Valleys and Rural Bottomlands
5. Northeast Missouri's Wooded River Corridors

What are the best conditions for seeing fireflies in Missouri?

Best time to go looking for a firefly/lightning bug light show is about a half hour to an hour after sunset on a warm and humid night. You don't want to use flashlights or be anywhere where there will be vehicle headlights. Get as far away from populated places as you can and look near areas with tall grass that has water nearby. That's the best recipe for seeing these bright bugs do their thing. The peak season for fireflies and lightning bugs in Missouri is late May into the middle of June so we're in the heart of the season right now.