Lucibufagin

A lucibufagin is a defensive steroid produced by several species of firefly to make them unpalatable to predators such as spiders and birds.[1] Certain species of firefly that do not themselves produce lucibufagins have been observed to eat other species of firefly that do produce the steroid in order to gain the defensive properties for themselves.[2]

References

  1. ↑ P.J. Leisch (Summer 2018). "Five things everyone should know about... Fireflies". Grow. 11 (3): 5.
  2. ↑ Segelken, Roger. "Lured and liquidated, gullible male fireflies supply 'femmes fatales' with a lifesaving chemical | Cornell Chronicle". news.cornell.edu. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
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