Since a young age, one of my favorite aspects of the summer nights has always been the majesty and mystery of fireflies. (Or "lightnin' bugs," if you prefer. And not this one.) Whatever you call them, this summer has literally been lighting up with the interesting creatures.

Due to the wet weather of last year’s summer, the conditions were perfect for a great crop of fireflies to dazzle us with their light show this year. Enjoy them while you can, however, because the dryness of this summer may dwindle their numbers next year.

Phil Pellitteri, an entomologist at UW-Madison, spotted his first firefly of the year in June, although he believes their season truly begins on the Fourth of July. Perfect, right? Along with other Wisconsinites, he’s been enjoying the large number of fireflies, stating that “it’s been pretty special.”

Why do we love the firefly? They’re just beetles, after all. Yes, but unlike other irritating insects, these bugs have always been synonymous with summer.

Whether you’ve ever participated in a “see how many fireflies you can catch in a jar” competition (letting them free once you’ve won, of course), or took to carrying around a flashlight to imitate the beetles … odds are you’ve enjoyed the lightning bug in one way or another.