Male Fireflies (Photinus pyralis (Linnaeus) and Photinus sabulosus Green) are at Special Risk of Capture by Spider Predators and are then Stolen by Kleptoparasitic Fireflies in the Genus Photuris Dejean (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

Abstract

Abstract Males of Photinus pyralis (Linnaeus) and Photinus sabulosus Green were the primary victims of spider attacks at a field site in northern Virginia from 1 July 2017 to 21 August 2017. Males of these species, as is true for other members of the genus, appear to be at far greater risk of predation than are females, a reflection of the mating system of fireflies in which males fly in search of females that are largely sedentary during the mating period. Once trapped, males are sometimes eaten by kleptoparasitic fireflies in the genus Photuris Dejean, which can usually steal wrapped prey from the spiders that have captured them, as has been demonstrated elsewhere as well, but occasionally fall prey to others of their genus that have been attracted to spider webs.