The Dark Side of the Light Show : Predators of Fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains
Joint Authors
De Cock, Raphaël
Faust, Lynn
Lewis, Sara M.
Source
Issue
Vol. 2012, Issue 2012 (31 Dec. 2012), pp.1-7, 7 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2011-12-29
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
7
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
In the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, the Light Show is a popular seasonal attraction created by thousands of courting male Photinus carolinus fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) that flash in synchrony to locate females.
This study was undertaken to provide a temporal snapshot of whether invertebrate predators are active within these dense and conspicuous firefly breeding aggregations.
In addition, we examined whether female Photuris fireflies, which are specialist predators on other fireflies, show any feeding preferences within the diverse local firefly fauna.
A field survey revealed a surprisingly diverse suite of generalist insectivores feeding on fireflies within P.
carolinus breeding aggregations.
In addition, laboratory studies revealed major differences in prey consumption rates when Photuris predators were given access to several lampyrid taxa.
This suite of generalist and specialist predators appears to create a complex selective landscape that is predicted to be a powerful force shaping the evolution of firefly defenses.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Lewis, Sara M.& Faust, Lynn& De Cock, Raphaël. 2011. The Dark Side of the Light Show : Predators of Fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains. Psyche،Vol. 2012, no. 2012, pp.1-7.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-486815
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Lewis, Sara M.…[et al.]. The Dark Side of the Light Show : Predators of Fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains. Psyche No. 2012 (2012), pp.1-7.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-486815
American Medical Association (AMA)
Lewis, Sara M.& Faust, Lynn& De Cock, Raphaël. The Dark Side of the Light Show : Predators of Fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains. Psyche. 2011. Vol. 2012, no. 2012, pp.1-7.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-486815
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-486815