CLOSED: What is this scaly, luminiferous 6 legged critter?

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
mlnoone Calicut, India Oct 27, 2009

Found this in the back yard at night. Had two greenish firefly-like lights on one end of its scaly body that it would turn on when touched, as shown in the photograph.

Thumbnail by mlnoone
Post #7214061
Quote
suunto Sinks Grove, WV Oct 27, 2009

This appears to be a larva of a firefly (Coleoptera: Lampyridae); its head is hidden by an extension of its pronotum. These insects are general predators on other arthropods and invertebrates, including snails - see http://tinyurl.com/yj574am for an image of one in action.

Post #7214240
Quote
mlnoone Calicut, India Oct 28, 2009

Thank you. Can they grow this big? It was ~4.3cm long. An ant which happened to pass by is in the upper right corner of the photograph. Attaching another photo, with an ant clinging to one of its feet.

Thumbnail by mlnoone
Post #7216288
Quote
suunto Sinks Grove, WV Oct 28, 2009

Some firefly larvae can reach a length of 5 cm; in many insects, the greatest length and mass is attained in the larval rather than in the adult stage.

Post #7216676
Quote
mlnoone Calicut, India Oct 28, 2009

That's amazing - Thanks once again!

Post #7216998
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Insect and Spider Identification Threads

Go to all Insect and Spider Identification threads
BACK TO TOP