Flash communication between the sexes of the firefly, Photuris lucicrescens

ABSTRACT. The courtship signal of the male firefly, Photuris lucicrescens Barber (Coleoptera, Lampyridae), is a brilliant crescendo flash which grows in intensity, reaches a peak and abruptly terminates. It was found to be triggered by a long neural burst from the brain. Males and females produce weak, twinkling flashes which induce male crescendo flashes. Female responses were triggered by a slowly rising intensity, and female response latency is therefore variable. Male and female P.lucicrescens fireflies produce two different types of flashes and both these flashes play an integral part in their courtship communication.