Chapter 1
The chemistry of the glow
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Chapter 2
The language of light
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Chapter 3
The darker side of the glow
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Chapter 4
Fireflies in our changing world
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YOUR GOAL
Master of Why fireflies light up
Ch 3 · The darker side of the glow
hank The Femme Fatale Firefly
Don't fly to her, don't fly to her, That pretty light is a predator!
hank Predatory fireflies consume other species to absorb their toxic defensive chemicals.
BETA
hank Mimic the flashing patterns of fireflies to discover why they light up warm summer nights.
Fun Fact
Stealing defense: Female Photuris fireflies eat males of other species solely to absorb their toxins, making themselves toxic to spiders.
Glossary
lucibufagin (noun)
A defensive steroid produced by several species of firefly to make them unpalatable to predators. In 1997, Cornell University researchers found that female Photuris fireflies eat Photinus males to acquire this toxin.
A defensive steroid produced by several species of firefly to make them unpalatable to predators. In 1997, Cornell University researchers found that female Photuris fireflies eat Photinus males to acquire this toxin.