ST. LOUIS – Those magical summer dusk scenes we shared as children are slowly becoming extinct.

Depending on where you grew up, you may call them fireflies, lightning bugs, glow bugs. They have different names, but their familiar glow always signaled the beginning of summer.

Across the country, lightning bug populations are slowly fading. With their origins dating tens of millions of years ago, there isn’t a definite answer to explain their disappearance, but scientists have their theories: habitat loss due to new development, light pollution, and a changing environment.

The existence of fireflies is important, as well as other insect species with fading populations. They serve a purpose in the food chain, feeding on soft-body insects when larvae. Like any other predator, they help to maintain a balance in the ecosystem.

Experts say you can help the firefly population by keeping outside lights off or use yellow bulbs on outdoor lights, since yellow is less attractive to most insects.

You can raise the height of your lawnmower before cutting the grass. This helps to keep your grass cooler while locking in moisture. And finally, adding native plants such as milkweeds, black-eyed Susans, or purple coneflowers are just some of the top Missouri and Illinois native plant picks for happy pollinators.