Sexual Communication In North America, there are fireflies which generate flashing lights for sexual communication. The males of these Photinus fireflies emit pulses of light. The frequency and duration are unique to the species; the females of each species answer in their own characteristic pattern. In this way, the sexes find each other and mate. Males are the first to start the series of patrolling flashes needed to locate and mate with a female. Males will actively fly while flashing, whereas females are sedentary. They will flash every 6 seconds and wait for a responding flash from the female. It has been shown that females only respond to males of their species; identifying them by the colour of their yellow bioluminescent flash. Females will twist their abdomen towards the males flash, presenting their own flash toward the male. The males show an obvious gaze shift towards the last female flash, and continue towards it until the female firefly flashes again. The flashes continue until the male reaches the female.
Love Songs Male grasshoppers generate their love songs by stridulation, this is rubbing a row of tiny pegs on the inner sides of the hind legs against an especially hardened vein on the forewing. The spacing and size of the pegs contribute to the uniqueness of the species song.
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