Photuris female eating a Photinus male
When looking for a mate, common wisdom in the animal world is
that it's best if you stick within your own species. In the case of
males of the firefly genus Photinus not only do they allow
themselves to be distracted by females of another species, but
these females are in an entirely different genus! Females of the
firefly genus Photuris will emit the same characteristic
flashes that females of the genus Photinus emit. Males,
being typical males who go against better judgment, approach these
females but instead of courtship get an unexpected surprise - they
get eaten by these femme fatales!
Scientists have determined that male Photinus fireflies
have a defensive chemical that female Photuris fireflies
lack. By eating the males, the females are able to acquire this
chemical which helps repel predators such as spiders.
Playing this Wherigo
This is a night cache - don't attempt to find it during
the day as fireflies only signal when it is dark. When you start
this Wherigo, you take on the role of a male Photinus
firefly. You embark on your journey to find true love and on your
quest you encounter friends, rivals, femme fatales, and if along
the way you make an error in judgment something very sinister. At
one point along your journey you will have to make a choice, one
path leads into darkness, the other into despair, so choose wisely.
If you make the right choice, you can continue on your journey. If
you make the wrong choice then pay very close attention to what the
Wherigo tells you!
Total distance from start to finish is just under 3 km. Please
save the cartridge often. If you can't seem to lock into a zone,
then save and exit your cartridge, leave the zone, restart your
saved cartridge and try again.
You can download the cartridge
here.
Be sure to visit Glow
Worms and What Big Eyes You
Have while in the area.