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Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Functional Imaging with Reinforcement, Eyetracking, and Physiological Monitoring
Published on: November 13, 2008
Reinforced tracheoles in three firefly lanterns: Further reflections on specialized tracheoles
1Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York 12222.
Abstract:
The structures of the lantern tracheoles of three genera of flashing fireflies are compared. All three genera have stiff, reinforced tracheoles which resist folding or collapsing under conditions which flatten more typical tracheoles. This common specialization supports the hypothesis that the tracheoles play a major role in flash control in these fireflies, especially as the morphological basis of the stiffening is different in the three genera. Study of the tracheoles of other tissues reveals that there is great variety in structure and flexibility of these vessels from tissue to tissue and organism to organism, suggesting that tracheolar specialization may be a general phenomenon, with the fine structure of these air tubes being tailored to the particular demands and conditions of the tissues in which they are found.
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