The Role of Pigments in Light Color Variation of the Firefly <i>Photinus pyralis</i>.

ABSTRACT: Firefly light color does not appear to directly influence mate choice, but it seems to be under selection to enhance signal detectability by increasing contrast with the visual background. While luciferase has been considered the sole determinant of light color, populations of the Big Dipper firefly (Photinus pyralis) with identical luciferases display variation in emitted light color. Here, we examined whether P. pyralis fireflies use pigments to filter the light produced by luciferase and contribute to variation in light color across populations. If pigments influence light color, we predicted that genes involved with pigment biosynthesis would be expressed in light organs, and that pigment substrates could also be detected in firefly light organs. Since screening pigments

SUBMITTER: Popecki MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12364529 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature