In fireflies, flightless females lose out on gifts from males
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 - 16:30
in Biology & Nature
Biologists have shown that wingless "stay-at-home" female fireflies get less support from their mates than females able to fly. Some species of male fireflies donate a "nuptial gift" to mates -- sperm wrapped in a nutritious high-protein package. When a species' females lose the ability to fly, the males often evolve to transfer only sperm, with no gift of food.