Please help me with this incest. What is it? Is it poisonous? Does it bite? How can it be prevented from coming inside my house. I am located in Northern part of India, Pathankot town, Punjab state. There is lot of greenery/ garden around my house. It curls up on being disturbed and lights up it's tail with luminous points.
This is a firefly, a beetle in the family Lampyridae. Your specimen is either a larva or a larviform female - see http://npss.org.sg/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=10367 for images. These are beneficial, feeding primarily on a wide variety of other arthropods. One species even feeds on the giant African snail! (see http://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/handle/10125/14870/16%281%29_24-29.pdf?sequence=1)
Brother it's nearly as big as my finger not a larva , it's not a firefly for they are already existing in my garden and are as tiny as my nail. It's got scales on top, I doubt it is a beetle. Two of the pics are of it's lower side, since it was inverted that time. Please check again and reply. Am also wanting to know how dangerous is it ..
I believe that the only insects on the planet that have bio-luminescent structures are "fireflies". There are some 2,000 species in the world, varying in size and other characteristics, and multiple species occur in most, if not all areas. Many larval forms in North America look almost exactly like your "mystery" insect. Did you even look at the first link Flapdoodle provided? Larva are predatory, hence a danger to earthworms, spiders, and other insects, but not to humans, pets, mice, toads or other vertebrate animals. By the way, Flapdoodle is a very knowledgeable, experienced entomologist, not a casual hobbyist.
I can assure you with 100 percent certainty, that this is a beetle in the family Lampyridae. Some species can have a very bizarre appearance that do not look at all like a typical beetle. And they are beneficial/neutral in human terms, not dangerous at all.
Gratitude to you, greenthumb99 and Flapdoodle. Your info has been extremely helpful. The pic of this insect is given in both lampyridae and rhagophthalmidae on the internet. Have two more queries please.
1. How can this be prevented from coming inside my house(some insecticide) ? And is this insect likely already present inside my house(I recently moved to this house) or coming from the garden?
2. In case my son or me hold it in the hand, is it capable of inflicting any kind of bite ?
Once again am indebted for your assistance. Regards. You guys rock!
The taxonomic status of rhagophthalmid beetles is still being debated - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhagophthalmidae
In looking more closely at your images, I believe that it is more likely a larviform female lampyrid (firefly) than a larva.
As I said before, these insects are harmless to humans. They do have jaws and thus theoretically capable of giving one a nip, but that would be of no consequence. Active predators like these are apt to enter dwellings during their searches for prey, but their presence is no cause for any alarm.
1. this insect is an intruder, not a dweller in your house. Exclude by physically preventing entry (screens, closed doors, etc.). Pesticides not eeded.
2. Not a biting hazard. Using pesticides indoors for fear of this is a hazard.
Thank you.
I am posted to a relatively green place and seeing quite a few funny looking insects. In case it's your job or hobby to study insects I can send you pics of them. And for your assistance provided please let me know if ever you require help of any kind in India. Would be happy to oblige. anuj_dave@yahoo.com
Post them here, we would love to see them.
