BIOLUMINESCENCE IN FIREFLY LARVAE - A TEST OF THE APOSEMATIC DISPLAY HYPOTHESIS (COLEOPTERA, LAMPYRIDAE)

We investigated the hypothesis that bioluminescence in firefly larvae (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) functions as an aposematic display. In two ex periments, we confirmed the distastefulness of firefly larvae, and tes ted the hypothesis that a naive, nocturnal predator can learn to use l ight signals as aposematic cues for avoiding distasteful prey. Larvae were rejected as acceptable prey by 100% of the house mice (Mus muscul us) tested. Mice learned to avoid bitter food associated with light cu es significantly faster (P = 0.003) than mice presented with food lack ing light cues. We conclude that luminescent glowing in firefly larvae meets the requirements of an aposematic signal.