Spiders Manipulate Fireflies to Draw More Prey into their Webs

Certain species have a remarkable ability to exploit others for their benefit. Scientists have recently uncovered a fascinating example: some spiders manipulate the flashing of fireflies to lure more insects into their webs.

While fireflies’ enchanting glow illuminates the warm summer twilight, there’s more to it than meets the eye. Males flash their two lights in intricate patterns to attract females, who signal their interest with single-pulse flashes from a stationary position. When the females respond, the males move in.

Spiders Exploit Firefly Behavior

Moreover, interestingly, some spiders seem to have learned to exploit this behavior. Male fireflies caught in orb-weaving spider webs were observed changing their flashing patterns to mimic those of females, attracting more males.

The research began when first author Xinhua Fu noticed that fireflies trapped in spider webs were predominantly male. Curious about this phenomenon, the researchers examined 161 webs, comparing the flashing patterns of free male and female fireflies with those caught in the webs and noting the presence of spiders.

Spider Manipulates Firefly Signals

It wasn’t merely the fireflies’ panic causing them to emit distress signals. The researchers observed that when the spider was absent, the trapped fireflies didn’t attract additional males. It appeared that the spider was actively manipulating the signals.

“However, the spiders performed a distinctive wrapping and biting routine with the fireflies—an action not observed with other insects or even with fireflies whose lights the researchers had covered.”

“Upon detecting the bioluminescent signals of captured male fireflies, the spider performs a specialized prey-handling procedure involving repeated wrap-and-bite attacks,” explained Daiqin Li, a co-author of the study.

The researchers are still investigating whether the change in firefly signaling is triggered by something in the spider’s venom or simply the act of biting. Further research could provide answers and reveal other examples of animals cleverly manipulating their prey to enhance their own survival or reproductive success.

A well-known example is the “zombie ant fungus,” which compels its infected hosts to climb to a high position, facilitating the fungus’s growth and spore release to infect more ants. Another example is Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite found in soil and cat feces. While it primarily aims to return to the intestines of cats, its presence may also influence human behavior in ways that could make individuals appear more attractive or entrepreneurial.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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