A Guide to Understanding Thunderflies and How to Attract Them To Your Garden

Have you ever been captivated by the magical sight of delicate, luminescent creatures floating through the night sky? If so, you may have experienced the wonder of thunderflies, a family of fireflies native to many parts of the world. They are an incredible sight to behold, and if you’d like to bring them to your garden, then this guide is for you! Here, you’ll learn all about thunderflies, their unique characteristics, and how to attract them to your garden. From understanding what they eat, to the best plants and flowers to include in your garden, this guide will provide you with the information you need to create a thunderfly-friendly environment. So, if you’re ready to bring a little more sparkle to your outdoor space, read on to learn more about these remarkable insects!

Characteristics of Thunderflies

First, let’s review some of the most important characteristics that make thunderflies unique. First, like many other types of fireflies, thunderflies emit light as a mating ritual, much like glowworms do. However, unlike glowworms, they also emit light while they’re still inside the cocoon (the pupal stage), and during the larval stage. Another notable characteristic of thunderflies is that they emerge later in the year than most other firefly species. In fact, many parts of the world experience the presence of two different types of fireflies, one that emerges in the summer and one that emerges in the autumn. The autumn-emerging fireflies are typically thunderflies. Thunderflies also have a very short lifespan, which ranges from only one to two weeks.

What Do Thunderflies Eat?

Like many other species of fireflies, thunderflies feed on small insects such as mosquitoes. However, unlike many other firefly species, they are primarily pests themselves, living off the pollen of flowers instead of eating other insects like many other pollinators do. Another important fact to note is that when thunderflies emerge in the autumn, they are actually a completely different species than when they emerge in the summer. This means that if you have a thunderfly-friendly garden in the summer, having a different garden in the autumn will be even more important. Thunderflies

How to Attract Thunderflies to Your Garden

The most important thing to remember when trying to attract thunderflies to your garden is that they feed primarily on pollen, not nectar. This means that you should focus on planting flowers that have a high pollen content, rather than flowers that offer nectar. You may be wondering, “Which flowers are high in pollen?” Well, there are actually quite a few, including: – Alfalfa – Asteraceae (commonly known as sunflowers) – Bee balm – Cosmos – Fennel – Hops – Milkweed – Mignonette – Raspberries – Sage – St. John’s wort – Vervain If you want to create a truly thunderfly-friendly garden, you should also include a wide variety of plants, since each species of thunderfly prefers a different variety of plant.

Planting the Right Flowers and Plants

Now that you know which plants to include in your garden, it’s time to plant them! To make your garden a truly thunderfly-friendly environment, we recommend planting your flowers and plants 1–2 feet apart, in a variety of different colours, with the taller plants in the back and the shorter ones in the front. In addition to planting the right flowers and plants, there are a few other things you can do to make your garden even more attractive to these incredible insects. First, be sure to add some water sources, such as bird baths or ponds, since thunderflies need water. You can also add some foliage, such as shrubs and trees, since thunderflies like to perch on foliage and branches.

Creating a Thunderfly-Friendly Environment

Now that you know what types of plants and flowers to include in your garden, as well as where to place them, the next step is to create an environment that’s attractive to thunderflies. To do this, you’ll want to focus on three things: providing a water source, planting a wide variety of plants, and planting a mix of tall and short plants. Providing a Water Source – As we mentioned above, thunderflies need water, so you’ll want to add a water source to your garden. A bird bath is a great option, or you could also create a pond if you have the space. Planting a Wide Variety of Plants – As we also mentioned above, thunderflies prefer a wide variety of plants, so be sure to plant a wide assortment of flowers and plants in your garden. Planting a Mix of Tall and Short Plants – While you’ll want to plant a wide variety of plants, you’ll also want to plant a mix of tall and short plants to create the perfect habitat. Tall plants will provide shade and cover for the smaller plants, while the shorter plants will be easier for the insects to access.

Tips for Keeping Thunderflies Safe

Now that you know how to create a thunderfly-friendly environment, let’s discuss a few tips for keeping your insects safe. First, you’ll want to keep pesticides and herbicides out of your garden, since they’re toxic to thunderflies. Also, avoid using fertilizers, since they can have harmful effects on the insects. Finally, make sure to remove any standing water from your garden, since it can breed mosquitoes, which are harmful to thunderflies. If you’re wondering how you can be sure the birds don’t eat the insects, or if you’re wondering how you can be sure the insects stay in your garden, we have a couple of tips for you. First, you can place your taller plants in the back of your garden, which will give your shorter plants some protection. In addition to this, you can build a barrier around your garden to keep the birds out. Finally, you can use natural deterrents, such as chili peppers and nettles, to keep the birds away.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to attract thunderflies to your garden, it’s time to get started! From choosing the right flowers and plants to creating an environment that’s attractive to these insects, creating a thunderfly-friendly garden is easier than you might think. All you have to do is follow these simple steps, and you’ll be well on your way to enjoying the mesmerizing sight of these delicate creatures. So, what are you waiting for? Start creating your thunderfly-friendly garden today!

This article is provided by https://www.goodgardn.co.uk/blogs/thunder-flies