Fireflies rely on flashing signals to communicate to other fireflies using light-emitting lanterns on their abdomens. In fireflies of the species Abscondita terminalis, males make multi-pulse flashes with two lanterns to attract females, while females make single-pulse flashes with their one lantern to attract males.
Now researchers have evidence that an orb-weaving spider manipulates the flashing signals of male fireflies ensnared in its web such that they mimic the typical flashes of a female firefly, thereby luring other males to serve as their next meal.
This led Fu to suspect that the spiders might be attracting males to their webs by somehow manipulating their flashing behavior. To test this hypothesis, behavioral ecologists Daiqin Li and Shichang Zhang from Hubei University, along with Fu, conducted field experiments that allowed them to observe both the spider's behavior and the fireflies' signals.
"While the eyes of orb-web spiders typically support limited spatial acuity, they rely more on temporal acuity rather than spatial acuity for discriminating flash signals," Li said."Upon detecting the bioluminescent signals of ensnared male fireflies, the spider deploys a specialized prey-handling procedure involving repeated wrap-bite attacks."
Mating And Breeding Epigenetics Research Animals Wild Animals Behavioral Science Biology Nature
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