A new firefly, collected in the Dominican Republic, controls the "on and off" of its flash pattern by alternately exposing and concealing its light organ with "flaps" rather than controlling light emission through the initiation and termination of a chemical reaction, as do other fireflies. This species is a key component to the study of firefly signal evolution and adaptations that control signal generation. The function of this mechanical shutter mechanism, as well as its evolutionary origin as unique and novel flash control mechanism will be discussed.
Species 1: Coleoptera Lampyridae Robopus (firefly)
Keywords: Lampyridae, firefly
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA