Fireflies light up the night to attract mates, but attraction may not be about being flashy; it could also be about who smells the best.
New research published in BMC Genomics looks at the genetics of the common eastern firefly (Photinus pyralis) and found that besides bioluminescent flashes, fireflies may also be using pheromones to attract mates.
"Fireflies have always been seen as a visual species. They light up, and we assume that's how they talk to each other," said lead study author Sarah Lower — who helped map the firefly genome in 2018 — in a press release. "But we looked at genes for odorant receptors — the ones tied to smell — and found there's a lot more going on than we thought."
According to the study, the research team collected 102 odorant receptor (OR) genes. Many of which were expressed strongly in the antennae. Surprisingly, there was ...
