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Mating-induced behavioural switch in female fireflies

Nature volume 255, pages 628–629 (1975)Cite this article

Abstract

BARBER1 reported that courting male fireflies of the genus Photinus receive answers from Photuris females, and observed Photuris females devouring Photinus males. Lloyd has summarised many of these observations and he coined the term firefly femmes fatales to describe Photuris females that mimic the responses of other species2–4. We have found that non-mated Photuris versicolor females answer their homospecific male flashes almost exclusively. After mating they become aggressive mimics which respond to the flashes of Photinus macdermotti males.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cellular and Comparative Biology, Stony Brook, New York, 11794

    STEVE NELSON & ALBERT D. CARLSON

  2. Department of Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540

    JONATHAN COPELAND

Authors
  1. STEVE NELSON
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  2. ALBERT D. CARLSON
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  3. JONATHAN COPELAND
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NELSON, S., CARLSON, A. & COPELAND, J. Mating-induced behavioural switch in female fireflies. Nature 255, 628–629 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/255628a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/255628a0

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