Posted by firefly on 14-01-2011 22:12
#17
Nick Upton wrote:
Yes, a very interesting article. Why are JUST the mycetophilids bioluminescent, and yet the phenomenon seems to have evolved several times in that family... Maybe there are other flies/ fly grubs glowing subtly away in other families out there...
Yes there are, the article does mention about others as well.
Nick Upton wrote:
I've encountered all kinds of amazing bioluminescent insects over the years, but most have predictably been beetles, mostly true fireflies (Lampyridae) some with amazing complex male / female and prey luring codes, some even synchronise the flashing. The brightest ones I've seen are actually Elateridae (click beetles) in South America (Pyrophorus sp = fire - carrying ) with green lights on the thorax and an orange light under the abdomen that only lights up on take off.
Yes, I did heard about them, however when I was in Brasil I did searched for fireflies sometimes but didnīt saw any firefly at all, only dinoflagelates glowing in the sea ( quite nice to see)... And an unknown light bearing animal ( insect? I couldnīt get nearby.). I wonder if that was a location particular aspect or just the season that was wrong... I was there in April ( northeast near Sauipe).
Maybe as that area is not humid all year round, they have a more seasonal display period.
Nick Upton wrote:
In Trinidad they've given rise to a legend about a witch that flies at night like a ball of fire.... They are quite spooky actually... And in Ecuador, kids collect them to put in glass jars to act as a lanterns. I was able to read by the light of one of these in Amazonia! Bioluminescent jellyfish are fun (the bioluminescence rubs off on you if you handle them...) and even better are marine dinoflagellates and ostracods which give surreal wakes to boats, and flashing sparks on the shore as waves break - I saw this in Scotland once. And finally, Bermuda fireworms (syllid polychaetes) put on amazing luminous spawning spectacles on moonless summer nights for a few minutes after dark.
I have experienced different types of bioluminescence as well, but I havenīt travelled that much as you and my fieldwork is devoted only into some regions, to publish an extensive study about fireflies and other bioluminescent animals, fungus, etc...
Nick Upton wrote:
( even Sorry to go so far off the diptera track... but bioluminescence is a favourite phenomenon of mine which i've been involved in the filming of many times, but I've never yet seen bioluminescent diptera and would love to get to those New Zealand caves one day.
Wow, thatīs truly amazing.
I would like to see your footages.
See here my blogspace ( hopefully will change into a site soon) :
http://pirilampos-lightalive.blogspot.com/
Itīs in portuguese but you can use translator and the pictures are nice ( some were taken by me, others not).
Regarding Diptera, I would like to give some clues about Keroplatus tipuloides ( the most studied Eurasian specie). Their luminescent larvae are found in this mushroom : Fomes formentarius ( those huge and hard mushrooms). They live in mucilaginous nets spun under the carpophore.
http://www.online-keys.net/sciaroidea/1991_2000/Stahls_1990_Keroplatus_tipuloides_in_Finland.pdf
Interesting article with pictures
Edited by firefly on 15-01-2011 00:13