Spiders flash for new prey
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Spiders can turn fireflies into accomplices in a deadly deception.
Researchers have discovered that orb-weaving spiders manipulate the bioluminescent signals of male fireflies trapped in their webs, causing them to imitate female fireflies and lure additional prey.
This behaviour was observed in a study of 161 webs, where spiders specifically altered the flashes of captured male fireflies to resemble the single-pulse signals used by female fireflies to attract mates.
Fireflies typically use flashing patterns to communicate and find mates, with males producing multi-pulse flashes using two lanterns, while females emit single-pulse flashes from a single lantern. The study shows spiders can exploit this system.
Once a male firefly becomes trapped, the spider manipulates its flashing to mimic that of a female. This deceptive signal attracts other male fireflies to the web, unknowingly guiding them into a deadly trap.
Researchers from Huazhong Agricultural University in China observed that webs with spiders present captured more male fireflies than those without.
This suggests that the spiders' presence is integral to the manipulation of the trapped fireflies’ flash signals.
Analysis confirmed that the captured fireflies flashed only one of their lanterns, closely mimicking female fireflies.
The study provides a rare glimpse into how predators can manipulate prey behaviour through interspecies communication.
The researchers believe that the spider’s venom, or its bite, could be responsible for altering the fireflies’ signals, though more research is needed to confirm this.