![]() Artificial light in night environments is increasing, even in countryside areas. ![]() Their glow may be being used to signal that they wouldn't be a pleasant meal for predators.įireflies' lives revolve around light. In species of firefly where the larvae glow prominently, this is probably for defence. The females mimic the light patterns of other species, attracting males to kill and eat them. This is one of the main ways for fireflies to tell if they're receiving a message from the same species.įireflies in the genus Photuris, found in North America, are often called femme fatale lightning bugs. In non-glow-worm fireflies, males and females communicate by both flashing their lights in specific patterns and tempos to identify themselves. Instead they produce a sustained stream of light. A chemical reaction with the light-emitting enzyme luciferase produces their illuminations.īut glow-worms can't easily control the supply of oxygen, so they can't flash their lights on and off like some other firefly species. In glow-worms, a molecule called luciferin is combined with oxygen to create oxyluciferin.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |