I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago where endless, humid summer nights were punctuated by the flashing lights of fireflies. Also known as lightning bugs, there are more than 2000 species of firefly in the world, located in both temperate and tropical areas. They particularly thrive in marsh and wet, wooded areas.

Sadly, these areas are dwindling along with the lightning bugs. The Associated Press reports that fireflies are disappearing in places like Thailand. At a recent Thai symposium on firefly conservation, more than 100 entomologists and biologists showed up to discuss the insects fate. And it's not just happening in Thailand:

Yet another much-loved species imperiled by humankind? The evidence is entirely anecdotal, but there are anecdotes galore.

From backyards in Tennessee to riverbanks in Southeast Asia, researchers said they have seen fireflies - also called glowworms or lightning bugs - dwindling in number. - MSNBC

The most likely culprits in the fireflies' demise are urban sprawl, logging and pollution that destroy habitat. They also site noise pollution as a possible factor as it may disrupt firefly mating during which the male attracts a female by flashing.

Researchers use anecdotal evidence to show that species are disappearing, but concur that more research and hard data is needed. Such research is difficult because the insects have only a 1 - 3 week lifespan, are the size of a fingertip and cannot be tagged or tracked. Plus, the females are elusive since they rarely fly and don't flash.

Scientists are turning to volunteers to help out. The Boston Museum of Science has a Firefly Watch program for people to observe their own backyards and report back with firefly data.  Participation is easy, just create a profile including your type of yard and then log in with information about firefly sightings.

Scientists acknowledge the urgency to assess fireflies may not match that of polar bears or Siberian tigers. But they insist fireflies are a "canary in a coal mine" in terms of understanding the health of an ecosystem. - MSNBC

But fireflies do much more than light up the sky, and their survival may, in fact, aid our own. Fireflies contain luciferin and luciferase, rare chemicals used in research of diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis and heart disease. They also contribute to other kinds of research:

As all living cells contain ATP in a rather constant concentration, injection of the firefly's chemicals quickly detects energy problems in human cells (different reaction between normal and cancerous cells). The firefly technique is used to study heart disease, muscular dystrophy, urology, antibiotic testing, waste water treatment, environmental protection and diagnosis of hypothermia in swine-a condition costing the pork industry $200 to $300 million each year. Special electronic detectors, using firefly chemicals, have been placed in spacecrafts to look for earth-life forms in outer space. When as little as one quadrillionth of a gram of ATP enters the rocket's detector, a flash of cold light is given off and the signal is recorded by scientists on earth. Other detectors warn that milk, food or water may be bacteria contaminated. - Ohio State University

And fireflies give off almost 100% of the energy used to make their light, as light rather than heat, something scientists would like to be able to study and replicate. If we continue to destroy their habitat, we may not get the chance.