1978/02/01 by Thomas Eisner, David F. Wiemer, LeRoy W. Haynes +1 · 3 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Beetle Biology and Toxicology Studies #Biology #Coleoptera Taxonomy and Distribution #Ecology #Firefly protocol #Hemiptera Insect Studies #Lampyridae #Zoology
paper · doi:10.1073/pnas.75.2.905
openalex publication_date 1978/02/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Feeding tests with thrushes (Hylocichla spp.) led to the isolation of three novel steroid pyrones from fireflies (Photinus ignitus and P. marginellus) responsible, in part at least, for the unpalatability of these insects to the birds. The term lucibufagin is coined for these steroidal pyrones. The closest known relatives of lucibufagins are the familiar cardiotonic bufadienolides, found in certain toads and plants.