Behavior Flash

That winking glow of the firefly that brightens summer evenings and sends children scampering with jars is basically a big boast akin to a peacock's elaborate tail. In a study published Tuesday in the journal Behavioral Ecology, scientists found male fireflies that mustered up a longer fluorescent flash delivered a bigger "nuptial gift" to their mates, which then produced more baby fireflies. It seems that sexual grandstanding seen in animals as diverse as birds, deer and people also extends to the insect world. Sara Lewis, an associate professor of biology at Tufts University in Boston, says adult fireflies pretty much spend all their time reproducing. "Most other things also eat. Some organisms also watch TV. But there aren't any distractions from sex for fireflies."