Q: I always chased fireflies as a kid. Nowadays I don't see them. Is there a way to increase the firefly population, similar to how people are trying to increase the butterfly population?

A: The firefly is a beneficial predatory insect. It is also known as the lightning bug. It is neither a fly nor a bug: It is a beetle. They are among the most unique animals on the whole Earth. Most of the 2,000 species can produce light at will. Some other animals glow, but a lightning bug can turn its light on and off in a pattern.

In fact, light patterns are very important to a lightning bug. Typically, the female sits on a leaf and watches for a specific pattern of a flying male. The female signals back, and the male goes to her. In a cruel turn of events, some species are predatory on others, using the prey's light pattern to lure them in.

Each species of firefly has a specific light pattern. Patterns differ in duration of flash, color of flash and number of flashes. Some species start signaling before sunset, and others do not start until after sunset. Most species only signal for a short length of time each day. It is entertaining to watch kids try to catch lightning bugs. It is also fun to try and spot more than one species by counting the flashes of light.

The female lays eggs in summer and fall, which hatch as larvae. The larvae are predators that feed on other insects, slugs or snails. They live through winter as larvae and pupate in spring. The larvae are also called glowworms because they are able to produce light, which indicates to predators that they are not very tasty.

Many of the North-American species are found in marshes or wet, wooded areas. However, these two habitats have declined in size over the past few decades, so many species of insects and animals that live in these environments have also declined. Certain insect species are also on the decline due to the use of insecticides.

Some firefly-species adults are not predatory. Rather, they eat pollen and flower nectar. Therefore, by creating a lush, flowery habitat, say, for butterflies (as you mentioned), you will also help fireflies. Besides creating habitats, you can help increase the firefly population by protecting marshes and wet, wooded areas and limiting the use of insecticides.

Q: Some of our vegetables are beginning to rot at the bottom while they are still on the plant. How can we prevent this?

A: Extremes in moisture, especially during spring, can cause a number of disease problems in garden vegetables. But what you're experiencing is probably an environmental problem. It is called blossom-end rot, which often occurs on tomatoes, peppers, squash and watermelons. Blossom-end rot is the result of a plant's inability to maintain a continuous supply of calcium. Calcium intake is regulated by the amount of moisture in the soil. Drastic change in soil moisture — going from way too moist to not moist enough, and vice versa — affects the moisture regulation. When rotting occurs, the end of the fruit opposite the stem develops a water-soaked area that becomes sunken, brown and leathery.

Usually, only the first crop of fruit is affected. To fix the problem, remove the rotting fruit immediately. Make sure to water the garden evenly so the soil does not go through the wet-dry extremes. If the soil dries out too fast, adding mulch may help maintain moisture.

Email questions to Jeff Rugg at [email protected]. To find out more about Jeff Rugg and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.