Article: GOOD QUESTION!: Firefly light tells potential mates to glow for it.

Q: Do fireflies use their glow to find food?

A: Nice try. In fact, fireflies are the ultimate dieters. After gorging themselves in the larval state (as wee glowworms), fireflies eat nothing for their entire six-week adult life. That's willpower.

The glow, however, does serve two important purposes. First and foremost, fireflies use their glow to find mates on those dark August nights. This trait survives in some adolescent human males who can be observed on summer evenings in cities across the United States cruising for mates in neon-lit lowriders.

The glow also is a warning to predators. Apparently fireflies taste bad to bats and mice (a recent ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!