Long-Glowing Fireflies Attract More Mates
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
The winking glow of the firefly is basically a big boast akin to a peacock’s elaborate tail, researchers reported.
Scientists at Tufts University noticed that certain firefly males have a longer-lasting flash than others -- and that flashier males have more success mating. The females show this preference for a reason. In the latest issue of the journal Behavioral Ecology, the scientists showed that male fireflies with longer fluorescent flashes delivered more nutrients, along with sperm, to their mates. Their mates, in turn, produced more baby fireflies.
