Support the fact-based journalism you rely on with a donation to Marketplace today. Give Now!
Easy Sustainability Answers

What do you think: Is it OK for kids to capture fireflies and bugs to learn about nature?

Adriene Hill Aug 31, 2010

When I was a kid I’d spend summer nights collecting fireflies. I wasn’t interested in killing them–just capturing them and watching them flash in the jar. But is it OK to go firefly hunting? Or are we hurting the firefly population and teaching kids the wrong idea about ways to interact with nature? Should we all give up on our firefly lanterns?

The question is inspired by a heated conversation over at the Guardian about whether or not kids should use butterfly nets.

I’ll call some entomologists to see what they think–but in the meantime, I’d love to hear from you.

Photo credit: Flickr user Jamelah.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.