萤火虫用闪光来吸引配偶，但是这种生物发光现象对于捕食者同样具有吸引力。
然而在本月的《动物行为学》期刊网络版上刊登的一项新研究表明，如果这顿饭的味道太差，捕食者们便会学着规避这种闪光。
研究人员将人造萤火虫（一枚发光的绿色LED）放在一只美味的蟋蟀，或一只有毒的萤火虫（Ellychnia corrusca）的旁边，随后他们又放出了一只跳蛛。
尽管蜘蛛最初会选择攻击所有两只昆虫，但它们很快便学会避开闪光的LED。
美国马萨诸塞州艾莫斯特大学的动物学家Skye M. Long和同事指出，在野外，美味和难吃的两种萤火虫共享着相同的栖息地，因此如果一只蜘蛛或其他捕食者在其口中尝到了坏味道，它便会开始躲避所有的闪光，这对于两种萤火虫而言绝对是一个福音。（生物谷Bioon.com）
doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.10.008
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Firefly flashing and jumping spider predation
Skye M. Longa, Sara Lewisb, Leo Jean-Louisc, George Ramosa, Jamie Richmondc, Elizabeth M. Jakobc
Bioluminescent flashing in fireflies, while primarily a sexual signal, is known to deter some predators while attracting others. We tested whether flashing serves an antipredator function against two species of diurnal, visually hunting jumping spiders, Phidippus princeps and Phidippusaudax. To confirm anecdotal reports that fireflies flash during the day in a nonmating context, we documented that adult fireflies (Photuris sp.) of both sexes flash when disturbed in daylight. We also confirmed that activity periods of Phidippus and fireflies overlap, and that spiders attack fireflies and elicit flashing behaviour. We conducted three experiments to examine the influence of flashing on spider behaviour. (1) We tested whether the sudden onset of a flashing LED startled spiders that had initiated attacks on crickets, and found no evidence that it did so. (2) We used choice tests to determine whether flashing lights attracted or deterred spiders from attacking palatable prey. Spiders more often attacked crickets positioned next to a flashing LED versus an LED that was either off or glowed steadily. (3) Many firefly species are distasteful. Therefore, we tested whether flashing lights facilitate avoidance of unpalatable prey with experience. Spiders were given seven encounters with unpalatable prey (nonluminescent Ellychnia corrusca fireflies) associated with either flashing or unlit LEDs. Spiders in the two treatments were equally likely to attack the prey during their first encounter, but spiders exposed to flashing LEDs were significantly less likely to attack unpalatable prey by their seventh trial. Spiders tested with palatable prey showed no decline in attacks after exposure to flashing LEDs. We conclude that, although bioluminescent flash signals may increase attack rates by predatory jumping spiders, they may also facilitate learning about unpalatable prey. Thus, the costs and benefits of flashing may depend on the prevalence of firefly palatability.
