Larviform-female
Guides
Cenophengus pallidus
Pale South Texas Glowworm
Cenophengus pallidus is a species of glowworm beetle in the family Phengodidae. It was described by Schaeffer in 1904 and is found in North America. The species is commonly known as the Pale South Texas Glowworm. Like other phengodid beetles, adults are bioluminescent, with females and larvae typically exhibiting the characteristic glowworm luminescence more prominently than males.
Distremocephalus mexicanus
Distremocephalus mexicanus is a beetle species in the family Phengodidae, a group commonly known as glow-worm beetles or railroad worms. The species was described by Wittmer in 1963 and is native to Mexico. Phengodidae are bioluminescent beetles, with larvae and adult females typically producing light from specialized organs. Males are usually winged and non-luminous, while females are larviform and luminous. The genus Distremocephalus belongs to the tribe Mastinocerini within the subfamily Phengodinae.
Microphotus chiricahuae
Chiricahua glow-worm
Microphotus chiricahuae is a species of glow-worm beetle in the family Lampyridae, described by Green in 1959. The species epithet references the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona, indicating its geographic association with this region. As a member of the genus Microphotus, it belongs to a group of beetles known for bioluminescent larvae and flightless, larviform adult females. The species is rarely encountered and poorly documented in scientific literature.
Phausis
shadow ghosts, blue ghost fireflies
Phausis is a genus of firefly beetles in the family Lampyridae, established by LeConte in 1851. The genus is notable for extreme sexual dimorphism: males are small, winged, and typically non-luminescent, while females are larviform, flightless, and bioluminescent. Ten species are described from North America, including the well-known blue ghost firefly (Phausis reticulata). The genus remains poorly studied due to the cryptic nature of its species, and its taxonomic boundaries with the related genus Lamprohiza are unclear.
Phengodes laticollis
glowworm beetle
Phengodes laticollis is a glowworm beetle in the family Phengodidae, notable for pronounced sexual dimorphism and bioluminescence across all life stages. Females are larviform, larger than males, and produce yellow or green light from organs on trunk segments. Males are smaller, winged, and possess large curved mandibles. The species has been documented circumventing millipede chemical defenses through specialized predatory behavior.
Phengodes mexicana
glowworm beetle
Phengodes mexicana is a species of glowworm beetle in the family Phengodidae. The species was described by Wittmer in 1976. It occurs in Central America and North America. Members of the genus Phengodes are notable for their bioluminescent larvae and adult females, which are wingless and resemble larvae in appearance.
bioluminescentwingless-femalelarviform-femaleglowworm-beetlePhengodidaeElateriformiaPolyphagaColeopteraInsectaArthropodaAnimaliaCentral-AmericaNorth-AmericaWittmer-1976PhengodesPhengodes-mexicanaspeciesglowwormbeetleinsectarthropodanimalbioluminescencelarviformwinglessfemalelarvalarvaeadultmaledistributionrangegeographic-rangegeographic-distributionMiddle-AmericaAmericaAmericasWittmer1976descriptiontaxonomyclassificationmexicanaPhengodes plumosa
glow worm, railroad-worm, Plumose Glowworm Beetle
Phengodes plumosa is a glowworm beetle in the family Phengodidae. Larvae are bioluminescent and predatory, feeding primarily on millipedes. The species is found in North America. Common names include "railroad-worm," referring to the larval pattern of glowing spots that resemble train windows.
Pterotus obscuripennis
Douglas fir glow-worm
Pterotus obscuripennis, commonly known as the Douglas fir glow-worm, is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae. It is endemic to North America and has been recorded primarily in western coastal regions. The species is notable for its bioluminescent larvae, which are referred to as 'glow-worms.' Adults are non-luminous and possess reduced or non-functional mouthparts.