Why Do Fireflies Glow? Essay -- essays research papers

Why do Fireflies Glow? Fireflies have evolved the ability to send from their abdomen as a means of communication with each other. The most important reason for the flashing is for sexual communication. Flash signals have been classified into two systems. One is where a continuously glowing female attracts a non-glowing male. The second is when a female, flashes a species-specific response to a flying male, who is broadcasting a pulsating signal. There are other functions of flashing as well, such as using their luminescence for lighting up the ground during landing and walking. Fireflies also flash when captured or confined, which is thought to intimidate predators. Males can sometimes bend his light organ forward and put it in the face of the female he's mounted, flash it, blinding her since her eyes are sensitive and adapted to darkness. She will then be unable to see rival males clearly, hindering her from communicating with other potential mates. (Lloyd, 1984a). A particular genus of firefly, Photuris, has evolved quite an interesting behavior. It has learned to mimic the mating flashes of another genus, Photinus. They have "cracked" the species-specific signal codes of their prey, using their own sexual signals against them (Lloyd, 1990). When Photinus males attempt to mate with Photuris, she eats them. This phenomenon is called either aggressive mimicry or predatory responding (Copeland, 1991). T...