Why might bioluminescent fungi attract insects?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

time-lapse photo of fireflies — Bioluminescence Time-lapse image of fireflies in the Catskill Mountains, New York. Firefly light is a cold light, with approximately 100 percent of the energy given off as light and only a minute amount as heat. Only light in the visible spectrum is emitted.

Bioluminescent fungi may attract insects to assist in the dispersal of their spores. By glowing, these fungi can draw insects toward their fruiting bodies, which then facilitates the spread of the spores to new locations.1

While this light is produced through a bioluminescent chemical reaction—involving the oxidation of luciferin catalyzed by the enzyme luciferase—the light in fungi is emitted continuously rather than in flashes. In addition to attracting insects for spore dispersal, some fungi may glow to repel predators or as an accidental byproduct of their metabolism while breaking down wood.123