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Science 11 November 1983:
Vol. 222. no. 4624, pp. 634 - 635
DOI: 10.1126/science.222.4624.634
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Articles

Nocturnal Aerial Predation of Fireflies by Light-Seeking Fireflies

JAMES E. LLOYD 1 and STEVEN R. WING 1

1 Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611

Female Photuris fireflies guided by their prey's luminescence attack flying fireflies at night. They sometimes use this hunting tactic together with prey attraction by mating-signal mimicry. Such predation could have been a major factor in the evolution of signaling behavior of American fireflies. Nocturnal aerial predation by an insect and attack guidance on energy emitted by airborne prey have not previously been reported.

Submitted on March 18, 1983
Accepted on September 1, 1983


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